Mr. Mufti Abdul Matin Qane,
MOI Spokes man
Ministry of Interior
Airport road, opposite Aria city, Kabul
info@moi.gov.af

Dear Mr. Mufti Abdul Matin Qane,

I am writing to express my concern about the arbitrary arrest and detention of journalist Hamid Farhadi. 

As you may be aware, on 3 September 2024, Hamid Farhadi was arbitrarily arrested by members of the Taliban’s Ministry of Interior from his home in Kabul. He was subsequently accused of propaganda against the Taliban de facto authorities. This charge appears to be based on his work as a journalist working with exile-based media company – Etilaatroz – and reporting on the national ban of girl’s education.

I find it alarming to learn that during his interrogation and detention, Hamid Farhadi was subjected to ill-treatment including being kept in solitary confinement. Consequently, his mental health has severely deteriorated.

It is incredibly concerning that, on 19 September 2024, Hamid Farhadi was tried at the Taliban court in Kabul, without access to a defence lawyer. During this unjust trial, the Taliban judge accused him of propaganda against the Taliban de facto authorities and sentenced him to two years in prison. His journalistic reports, which are based on the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression, was the only evidence referenced.

Also, after spending months in Pol Charkhi prison, Hamid Farhadi was transferred to Bagram Prison on 28 March 2025 without any explanation or prior notice. Throughout this entire ordeal, Farhadi has been denied a lawyer to represent him, and his family are only allowed to visit him once a month for 30 minutes in the presence of a Taliban soldier. I therefore have serious concerns about his possible ill-treatment and lack of access to health care.

Hamid Farhadi’s arbitrary detention and lack of legal representation are a clear violation of his rights to freedom of expression and fair trial guaranteed under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Afghanistan is a state party.

I therefore urge you to:

• Ensure the immediate and unconditional release of Hamid Farhadi;
• Ensure that, until his release, he is held in conditions meeting international standards of fairness and has regular access to adequate healthcare, legal representation and family visits;
• Stop the practices of arbitrary detention and torture and other ill-treatment of people working to defend human rights including those peacefully promoting social change and non-discrimination.

Yours sincerely,