June 22, 2025
Kabul — The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) welcomes the release of Sayed Rahim Saidi, editor and producer of the YouTube channel ANAR Media, who had been detained for over eleven months. Saidi was previously sentenced to three years in prison on charges of disseminating propaganda against the Taliban government.
According to sources familiar with the case, Sayed Rahim Saidi was released from Bagram Prison in Parwan Province on June 18, 2025, on bail and has since reunited with his family in Kabul. Saidi was sentenced on October 27, 2024, by the de facto Third District Court in Kabul on charges of "propaganda against the Islamic Emirate" (Taliban), a move that underscores the ongoing repression of media freedom in Afghanistan.
Sayed Rahim Saidi had been working on a screenplay addressing the plight of a girl denied education by Taliban authorities—a project that led to his arrest by the de facto General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) on July 14, 2024. Under the Taliban de facto regime, girls are barred from continuing their education beyond the sixth grade.
With over two decades of experience in media and film production, Saidi is a prominent figure in Afghanistan’s media landscape. He previously served as a production manager and producer with Ariana TV since its inception in 2005. ANAR Media, which he launched with private investment in February 2024, has gained over 17,000 followers on YouTube and produces a diverse array of social, cultural, and religious content.
AFJC condemns the initial arrest of Saidi as a clear violation of press freedom and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all journalists detained in Afghanistan. AFJC urges the Taliban authorities to facilitate the safe and free work of journalists, respecting their fundamental rights as enshrined in Afghanistan’s media law.
According to the Afghanistan Press Freedom Tracker maintained by AFJC, at least ten journalists and media workers are currently in detention or serving sentences in Afghanistan. AFJC calls on the de facto authorities to end the crackdown on independent journalism and ensure that media professionals can operate without fear, intimidation, or censorship.