Taliban Detain Journalists Covering Book Fair in Khost
Local sources say Taliban morality police in Khost province have detained several journalists while they were covering the opening ceremony of a three-day book fair, in another incident highlighting restrictions on media work.
According to the sources, the journalists were detained on Tuesday, Sept. 17, while filming the opening event. The sources said they had been invited to cover the programme.
The sources added that the invitation was extended by the Directorate of Information and Culture and the Taliban security command in Khost. However, Taliban morality police detained them during coverage of the event.
The sources said the director of information and culture, the director of education and several other Taliban officials in Khost were also present at the ceremony. No details have yet been released about the fate or condition of the journalists.
The Taliban-run Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice is one of the administration’s subordinate institutions and its performance in recent years has repeatedly drawn widespread criticism over restrictions on civil liberties and media freedom.
