August 2, 2025
Ghazni, Ghazni Province — The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) welcomes the release of Solaiman Rahel, director of Khoshhal Radio Station in Ghazni, who was unjustly detained for nearly three months. This case highlights the ongoing threats to press freedom and the grave violations of journalists’ rights under the de facto authorities.
A source in Ghazni, who requested anonymity due to safety concerns, stated that Solaiman Rahel was released on July 31, 2025, after serving three months of imprisonment at Ghazni Central Prison. His detention followed a conviction by the de facto Primary Court in Ghazni on May 22, in a closed session, sentencing him to three months’ imprisonment on charges of “propaganda against the Islamic Emirate (Taliban government).” A local journalist in Ghazni stated that Rahel’s detention was triggered by his social media posts addressing social and economic issues affecting the local population—content the de facto authorities deemed inciting or anti-Taliban government.
This incident marks the second time members of Khoshhal Radio have faced detention and prosecution. In September of the previous year, Hekmat Aryan, the station’s former director, was sentenced to one month in prison for publishing content related to Taliban military operations prior to their return to power in August 2021.
AFJC said that the detention and three-month imprisonment of Sulaiman Rahel constitute a grave violation of his professional and human rights. We call on the de facto authorities to cease targeting journalists for exercising their right to report freely. All detained journalists and media workers must be immediately and unconditionally released, and their ability to operate without threats, intimidation, or harassment must be guaranteed in accordance with the Afghanistan media law.
According to the AFJC’s Press Freedom Tracker, at least 10 journalists and media professionals are currently detained or serving sentences across Afghanistan—an alarming sign of the shrinking space for independent journalism.