Taliban Releases Afghan Journalist After 134 Days In Prison, Reports AFJC

Hatif had previously criticised the Taliban's treatment of the media in a television interview.

He has been actively defending journalists' rights within Afghanistan for the past two and a half years.

According to the sources, Taliban intelligence, responsible for overseeing and controlling media activities, was involved in the detention of this journalist rights advocate on Wednesday.

Sources stated that Hatif was subjected to "humiliating" treatment during his detention.

Hatif is currently a board member of Afghanistan’s Journalists Organisations and Media Federation. According to sources, this federation has faced pressure from the Taliban in the past two months for hosting programmes in support of female journalists.

According to Iranian security officials quoted by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on Saturday, one of the detainees was a senior member of ISIS.

The report stated that Mohammad Zakir, also known as "Ramesh," who is a senior member and head of ISIS operations, was apprehended in Mahdasht city, Karaj.

Iranian police stated, "Through extensive intelligence efforts and with the cooperation of citizens who promptly contacted the police emergency number, a senior ISIS member, Mohammad Zakir, known as 'Ramesh,' along with two others from the group's terrorist units, were arrested.

The detained individuals were reportedly arrested in two separate operations by the police’s intelligence unit and were captured after their vehicle was targeted with gunfire, resulting in three injuries.

According to Iranian authorities, eight accomplices of these "terrorists" have also been arrested.

The action followed a ruling from the primary court of the Taliban in Logar.

The press release, citing a judge affiliated with the group in Logar, noted that local Taliban officials were in attendance during the flogging.

Details from the court indicate that the sentences varied, with the first individual receiving 35 lashes and one year of suspended imprisonment, the second 25 lashes alongside a similar one-year suspended term, the third and fourth each subjected to 39 lashes and one year suspended imprisonment, and both the fifth and sixth receiving 35 lashes and one year of suspended imprisonment as well.

With the Taliban's reinstatement of governance in Afghanistan, the regime has revived the use of corporal punishment methods such as flogging, amputation, and execution.

Human rights advocates contend that the Taliban's judicial processes fall short of fair trial standards, accusing the courts of applying a dual standard in their treatment of group members compared to ordinary citizens.

Human rights groups have consistently called on the Taliban to cease such brutal and rights-violating punishments, although the Taliban maintains its stance on enforcing penalties under what they claim to be "Islamic Sharia."

In a note on X social media platform, he wrote, "We, the youth, are heading down the wrong path. Instead of aligning the nation, we are pushing them away."

Azam added that following the Taliban's victory, the group's objective was to establish stability in the country, distance the nation from the "enemy," and get the support of the people. He said that this was also the philosophy behind the group's public statements.

This Taliban official did not provide an explanation for the behaviour of young members of the group who he described as straying from the right path. However, it seems that increasing dissatisfaction among the people with the group may be the reason.

Previously, some senior Taliban members have repeatedly voiced their opposition to public criticism.

Several Taliban officials who had criticised the group over the past two and a half years have been isolated or imprisoned.

The Taliban has repeatedly detained and imprisoned citizens or analysts for their critical remarks.

The Front stated that the attack occurred at 8 PM on Friday, in Kabul's fourth police district.

NRF has also shared a video of the attack on X social media platform. The footage, captured from a distance, indicates a bright flash and the sound of an explosion.

The front had claimed that no harm was caused to local residents or the NRF forces.

Previously, NRF had reported that during an attack on a Taliban base in Takhar, one Taliban member was killed and two others were injured.

In recent weeks, NRF's attacks against the Taliban have intensified. The Taliban refrains from commenting on these incidents.