Afghan scribes thrashed with cables for covering anti-Taliban protest

Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have been detaining and assaulting journalists and imposing new restrictions on media work the Human Rights Watch saidDemand is growing for the Taliban to stop the assaults drop the restrictions and ensure that Taliban members responsible for abuses against protesters and journalists are appropriately punishedOn September 7 Taliban security forces had detained Taqi Daryabi and Nemat Naqdi both journalists from the Kabulbased media outlet Etilaate Roz The reporters were covering a protest by women in Kabul demanding an end to Taliban violation of women and girls rightsEtilaateRoz reported that Taliban authorities took the two men to a police station in Kabul placed them in separate cells and severely beat them with cables Both men were released the next day after which they received treatment at a hospital for the injuries they suffered on their backs and facesTaliban authorities claimed that they would allow the media to function so long as they lsquorespect Islamic values but they are increasingly preventing journalists from reporting on demonstrations said Patricia Gossman Associate Asia Director at Human Rights Watch adding The Taliban need to ensure that all journalists are able to carry out their work without abusive restrictions or fear of retributionAlso read Taliban has banned womens sports in Afghanistan ReportThe Taliban authorities also detained a Tolo News photojournalist Wahid Ahmadi on September 7 and released him the same day They confiscated his camera and prevented other journalists from filming the protestSince early September Afghan women and girls in several cities have been holding protests against Talibans violation of women and girls rights including denial of their right to education and access to employmentWomen have spearheaded these protests but increasingly men have also joined them On September 7 hundreds of protesters ndash both women and men ndash marched through Kabul chanting slogans critical of the TalibanTaliban security forces have disrupted most of these recent demonstrations by beating up the protesters confiscating and damaging cameras and by threatening the reportersOn September 7 the Taliban had announced that protests in general are illegal unless approved from beforehandHowever some journalists covering the protests have said that Taliban officials have told them that reporting on protests is also illegal nowTaliban commanders and fighters have for long engaged in a pattern of threats intimidation and violence against members of the media and have been responsible for targeted killings of journalists the Human Rights Watch saidInternational human rights law prohibits arbitrary restrictions on the rights to freedom of speech and expression including detaining journalists and banning media outletsTaliban authorities are obligated under international law to respect and uphold everyones right to peaceful protests and to respect the rights of women and girls Gossman said adding The concerned governments should press the Taliban to protect free expression and peaceful assemblyThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever