AMSO Expresses Concern Over Arrest of Afghan Journalists in Islamabad
The Afghanistan Media Support Organization (AMSO) has reported that several Afghan journalists were detained last night in the Faisal Town area of Islamabad. According to the organization, this incident has heightened the risk of their forced deportation back to Afghanistan.
In a statement released on Tuesday, December 30, AMSO said these journalists had previously fled Afghanistan due to professional censorship, security threats, and political pressures. Now, they face an unsafe and unstable situation even in Pakistan.
The statement highlighted that the suspension of visa renewals and the detention of Afghan refugees, particularly journalists, has plunged them into an environment of fear, uncertainty, and psychological pressure, stripping them of the ability to live normal lives.
AMSO noted that many of these journalists were compelled to flee following the Taliban’s takeover and the severe restrictions imposed on media freedoms. The organization emphasized that their forced return could have serious security and human rights consequences.
AMSO has called on international and humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the European Union, and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), to pressure the Pakistani government to halt the arrests and immediately ensure the safety of Afghan journalists.
The Afghanistan Media Support Organization also urged the acceleration of efforts to relocate Afghan journalists to safe countries, warning that delays in this process seriously threaten their lives and professional futures.
