URGENT ACTION
JOURNALIST SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS FOR ‘PROPAGANDA’  
Hamid Farhadi, a journalist working with an independent newspaper operating in exile, was arrested by members of the Taliban Ministry of Interior on 3 September 2024. He was sentenced to two years in prison on 19 September, without any access to legal representation. The court accused him of spreading propaganda through his journalistic reports about the situation of women and girls in the country. On 28 March 2025, without explanation or prior notice, Farhadi was transferred from Pol- Charkhi Prison to to the notorious Bagram Prison.  His family are only allowed to visit him once a month, for 30 minutes. Hamid Farhadi must be immediately and unconditionally released as he is detained solely for the peaceful exercise of his human rights. 

TAKE ACTION: WRITE AN APPEAL IN YOUR OWN WORDS OR USE THIS MODEL LETTER

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,

Additional information

Hamid Farhadi is a journalist who had been working with Etilaatroz, an independent newspaper operating in exile, at the time of arrest. Previously, he had worked with various research organizations and media channels such as Qara Consultancy, Tolo and former High Council for National Reconciliation. For the past three years, his reporting included news about ongoing developments and restrictions and repression imposed by Taliban de facto authorities on women and girls. It is believed that his recent articles about the ban on girl’s education for Etilaatroz were the reason for his arbitrary arrest and detention.   
On 3 September 2024, he was arrested by members of the Taliban Ministry of Interior from his home along with his brother who was released after two days. At the time of arrest, Taliban soldiers surrounded him without an explanation nor providing an official arrest warrant and took him to Ministry of Interior. He has been sentenced to two years in prison. The Taliban alleged that Hamid Farhadi disseminated anti-regime materials, claiming they possess “substantial evidence’’. 
He was unjustly presented to the Taliban court three times and then, on 19 September 2024 in absence of a defence lawyer, the court accused him of spreading propaganda against the Taliban de facto authorities due to his journalistic reports and sent him to Pol- Charkhi prison. On 28 March 2025, without explanation and prior information to Farhadi’s family, he was transferred to Bagram prison where the Taliban are keeping political prisoners. On 16 April 2025, his family was allowed to visit him for half an hour in presence of a Taliban soldier through a glass window. 
Many journalists and human rights activists have condemned Hamid Farhadi’s arbitrary detention and have demanded his immediate and unconditional release. 
Afghanistan now has a dwindling civic space where human rights defenders, including women protestors, grassroots organizations and groups, journalists, and political activists are perceived as political opponents. Afghanistan continues to remain one of the most dangerous places in the world for human rights defenders and journalists, where the Taliban continue to use excessive and lethal force to repress those opposing their draconian policies and arbitrary actions. The Taliban’s seizure of power coupled with the continued intimidation and abuse of human rights community, the political, humanitarian, and economic crises have forced human rights actors to seek international protection abroad.  

PREFERRED LANGUAGE TO ADDRESS TARGET: English, Dari, Farsi, Pashto
You can also write in your own language.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: 31 August 2025

Please check with the Amnesty office in your country if you wish to send appeals after the deadline.

NAME AND PRONOUN: Hamid Farhadi [He/him]

Additional targets

N/A 

(Temporarily closed)
Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan 
1 Princes Gate, London, SW7 1QQ