Kiabul: Two Afghan journalists were beaten in the police custody this week after including protests by women in Kabul where they were detained by the Taliban, their editor said.
Zaki Daryabi, Founder and Editor in Chief of the EthoraT Roz newspaper, shared images on social media from two male journalists, one with red marks, with lower backs and legs and others with similar signs on his shoulders and arms.
Both men’s faces also bruises and cut images, verified by Reuters.
When asked about the incident, a Minister of Taliban acting, mentioned in his position when the new government was announced on Tuesday, said that every attack on journalists would be investigated.
He refused to be identified.
Daryabi said the beating sent a cold message to the media in Afghanistan, where the independent press, was largely funded by Western donors, has developed in the past 20 years.
“Five colleagues were stored in a detention center for more than 4 hours, and for four hours these two colleagues were beaten and brutally tortured,” he told Reuters on Thursday, the day after the incident.
He said the injured journalists were taken to the hospital and suggested by the doctor to take a two-week break.
The Taliban, who swept the capital of Kabul on August 15 and now ruled Afghanistan again after fighting a 20-year rebellion against foreign and Afghan forces, had vowed to enable the media to operate and respect human rights.
But the incident of harassment because they came to power have caused doubts between several Afghans.
Taqi Daryabi, one of two Eticaat Roz journalists, said seven or eight people beat them for about 10 minutes.
“They will lift the stick and beat us with all their strengths.
After they beat us, they saw that we had fainted.
They took us to lock us in cells with several others,” he said.
Reuters cannot independently verify its account.
The last time the Taliban ruled the country from 1996-2001, there was no independent and internet media in the period of growth.
Some journalists complained about the attack since the Taliban returned to power, and some women said they were not permitted to work in media work.
Under the first Taliban government, women are banned from work and education.
The Group has said in recent weeks that women will be allowed to work and attend universities in Islamic law parameters.
“Suddenly the collapse of the government, Etilat Roz initially decided to stay and operate in the hope that there would be no big problems for the media and journalists,” Daryabi said.
“But with yesterday’s incident, a little hope that I have for the future of media and journalists in this country was destroyed.”