The Taliban have detained three journalists in Takhar province, with local sources alleging they were subjected to torture while in custody.

The detainees include Sayed Munir Hadaf, director of Tasweer Weekly and head of the National Journalists’ Union of Takhar; Asadullah Timur, a local reporter; and Nasratullah Ebrahimi, a journalist with Ariana News.

Sources told Afghanistan International on Wednesday, 7 May, that the journalists were arrested two days earlier and transferred to prison by Taliban authorities. The arrests reportedly followed a chain of events stemming from an incident involving Timur.

According to the information provided, Timur had a verbal altercation with a tailor and was later threatened at gunpoint. He subsequently shared the incident on social media. The tailor in question is said to be the personal tailor of the Taliban’s intelligence chief.

Following the post, the Taliban’s criminal investigation department, allegedly acting on the orders of the intelligence chief, summoned Timur for questioning before detaining him.

Sources further report that Sayed Munir Hadaf and later Nasratullah Ebrahimi visited Taliban offices in an attempt to secure Timur’s release but were also detained. All three journalists were reportedly subjected to torture while in custody at the Taliban’s criminal investigation department. Their cases may now be handed over to the Taliban’s intelligence agency.

Despite repeated claims by Taliban officials that they respect press freedom, watchdog groups remain highly critical of the regime’s treatment of journalists. Amnesty International and other rights organisations have consistently raised alarms over the increasing threats, arrests, and violence targeting media personnel in Afghanistan.

According to the 2025 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders, Afghanistan ranks 175th out of 180 countries, with a score of just 17.88 reflecting a severely restricted media environment under Taliban rule.