The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) has reported that forces from the Taliban's Ministry of Justice have shut down the offices of the Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) and the Tebyan Cultural Center in Kabul. The move signals increasing restrictions on media and civil society organizations in the country.
According to the AFJC, the incident occurred last Thursday, October 1 (2 Mizan), in the Dasht-e-Barchi area of western Kabul. Taliban forces sealed the offices of both organizations. The area is predominantly populated by Shia Hazaras and has recently seen the closure of several other centers.
Furthermore, the journalists' center announced that on Saturday, Zaman Ali Chavoshi, a journalist with AVA, along with five employees of the Tebyan Center, were arrested after being summoned to the Ministry of Justice. Their current status remains unknown.
The media advocacy group has strongly condemned the closure of the AVA office and the arrest of its journalist. The AFJC has called on the Taliban to release Mr. Chavoshi immediately and unconditionally and to allow the news agency to resume its operations freely.
Notably, both the Tebyan Cultural Center and the Afghan Voice Agency are managed by Sayyid Isa Hosseini Mazari. Mr. Mazari has, in the past, repeatedly voiced support for the Taliban government's policies in his speeches. The reason for the closure of his affiliated organizations and the arrest of their staff has not been announced by the Taliban.
The Taliban's Ministry of Justice has not yet commented on the matter. This silence adds to the uncertainty and concern regarding freedom of expression and media activity in Afghanistan. In recent days, the Taliban have also closed several religious, educational, and health centers in Shia-majority areas of Kabul.
Source: Afghanistan Journalists Center
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