4 journalists freed in 3 provinces: AIJU

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Four journalists from Killid, Salam Watandar Radios and Tolo News have been released in Kandahar, Kunduz and Nangarhar provinces, according to a statement on Thursday.

Killid Radio’s Nangarhar branch head and one of its journalists have been released after 20 days of detention.

The Afghanistan Independent Journalists Union (AIJU) statement said that Killid Radio Nangarhar Branch Head Faqir Mohammad Faqirzoi and its Reporter Jan Agha Salih were released yesterday after twenty days captivity.

The statement also said that Tolo News Reporter Attaullah Umar has been freed in Kunduz and Salam Watandar Radio Reporter Haseeb Hassas has been freed in Kunduz province.

AIJU welcomed the release of the journalists but emphasized that issues related to journalists must be addressed through Media Violations Commission.

The Afghanistan Journalist Center (AFJC) has also welcomed the release of these journalists and stressed other journalists who are in detention must also be released without any delay.

Seddiqullah Badlon, deputy head of the Nangarhar Information and Cultural Affairs Department media wing confirmed the release of the journalists.

He stressed: “We support media outlets who committed to Islamic values and national interest.”

Faqirzoi and Salih were picked from Jalalabad city on August 11 by the personnel of General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI).

GDI said the reasons behind the arrest of these journalists were their cooperation with anti-government media outlets and sharing information with them.

Aw/nh

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