May 28, 2025
Ghazni, Ghazni province – The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) strongly condemns the recent sentencing of Solaiman Rahel, director of Khoshhal Radio in Ghazni, to three months in prison. The verdict, issued by the Ghazni primary court on May 22, 2025, is viewed by AFJC as unjust, lacking transparency, and carried out under undue pressure from de facto authorities.
According to local sources in Ghazni, Rahel was detained by members of the de facto General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) on May 5, 2025, in connection with his social media posts discussing social issues and economic hardships faced by the local population. The court’s ruling reportedly stems from a complaint filed by the GDI, accusing Rahel of “propaganda against the Emirate [Taliban government].”
This incident follows a troubling pattern of repression against journalists in Afghanistan. Notably, in September 2024, Hekmat Aryan, former director of Khoshhal Radio, was detained and sentenced to one month in prison on similar charges, before being released after serving his sentence.
AFJC emphasizes that the arrest and sentencing of Solaiman Rahel are indicative of a broader crackdown on press freedom and expression. AFJC considers the verdict as a clear violation of journalists’ rights and a sign of increased suppression policies by the de facto authorities, particularly the intelligence agencies’ interference in media work.
AFJC calls on the de facto authorities to immediately respect and uphold the fundamental right to freedom of expression and to release all journalists unjustly detained. AFJC urges the de facto authorities to lift restrictions on media and journalists, enabling them to operate freely and safely without fear of punishment or harassment.
According to data from AFJC’s Press Freedom Tracker, at least 14 journalists or media workers are currently detained or serving prison sentences across Afghanistan, including Rahel.