Islamabad, Feb 13, (dpa/GNA) – A group of foreign nationals detained in Afghanistan have been released, Taliban chief spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid announced on Friday.
It is not clear if two journalists and Afghans working with them for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), who were detained earlier on Friday, are included in this group.
In a statement, Mujahid said the detainees claimed they worked for an international organization and were detained because they did not have identity cards, licences, or necessary documents.
He added that they are in good condition and had contact with their families while they were in detention.
The UNHCR has not made any comments about the releases. Previously, the agency said that the journalists were travelling on behalf of the UNHCR, but did not disclose any details about their identities or the exact time they were detained.
In a statement, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said one of the detainees is a former BBC journalist, while urging the Taliban to immediately release all journalists detained because of their work.
In addition, CPJ called on the Taliban to cease harassing members of the press.
The Taliban has imposed restrictions on media and free expression since they retook power last August.
The hardliners have also regularly detained protesters, women’s rights activists, and journalists, with some reporting abuse and torture after their release.
GNA