Taliban intelligence agents arrested local journalist Nazim Qasimi in Badakhshan on Wednesday night. Sources confirmed the arrest was triggered by a critical post he published on Facebook. His wife also announced the detention on social media, stating agents came at around 9 PM.
Qasimi's post criticized what he described as ethnic bias in Taliban's handling of opium smugglers in Badakhshan. Family members say this is his second arrest this year. During his first detention, the Taliban's Vice and Virtue department complained he did not grow a beard and ignored Taliban policies.
Reporters Without Borders ranked Afghanistan 175th out of 180 countries in its 2026 Press Freedom Index. The organization warns that criticism of the Taliban is banned, self-censorship is widespread, and Afghan journalists face a constant threat of arrest.
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