_large.jpg)
March 19, 2026
Kabul — The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) welcomes the release of Mahdi Ansary, a reporter for the Afghan News Agency (AFKA), who has been freed from Bagram prison after serving a year and a half behind bars. AFJC underscores that the detention and imprisonment of Ansary represent serious violations of his fundamental rights and demonstrate ongoing challenges to press freedom in Afghanistan.
According to sources in Kabul who requested anonymity for security reasons, Ansary was released from Bagram prison in Parwan province around 8 p.m. last night and has since rejoined his family in Kabul.
Ansary was detained by the de facto General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) shortly after leaving his office in Kabul on October 5, 2023. He was subsequently sentenced on January 1, 2024, by a de facto court in Kabul to one and a half years on charges of "propaganda against the Islamic Emirate" (Taliban). On October 2, 2024, the GDI aired a confession in which Ansary was accused of "spreading poisonous propaganda" against the authorities and of collaborating with exile media outlets, including Hasht-e-Sub Daily and Afghanistan International TV.
AFJC welcomes the release of Mahdi Ansary, emphasizing that his imprisonment was conducted unjustly, without due process, and without access to an independent legal defense. During his incarceration, a forced confession video attributed to Ansary was broadcast by the GDI, further violating his rights.
According to AFJC’s Press Freedom Tracker, at least 21 journalists and media workers have been detained across Afghanistan in the past 12 months. With Ansary’s release, at least four other journalists remain imprisoned.
AFJC calls on the de facto authorities to cease media repression and to immediately release all detained journalists. AFJC urges de facto authorities to uphold press freedom and allow journalists to operate freely and safely, consistent with international standards and fundamental human rights.