Statement of the Federation of Afghan Journalists in ExileJune 26, 2025
Urgent Appeal Regarding the Detention of an Afghan Journalist in Pakistan
The Federation of Afghan Journalists in Exile expresses its deepest concern over the detention and apprehension of Mojtaba Beikzad, an Afghan journalist residing in Islamabad. Like dozens of other journalists, he was forced to flee after the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, and now lives in Pakistan under precarious and uncertain legal conditions. According to credible reports, he has been transferred to the “Haji Camp,” which is typically used prior to the deportation of individuals.
The prolonged, costly, and exhausting visa extension process has left Afghan journalists in Pakistan in a state of fear and uncertainty, increasing the daily risk of detention and deportation. The forced return of these journalists to Afghanistan poses a direct threat to their lives due to their media activities and their defense of truth and freedom of expression.
The Federation of Afghan Journalists in Exile urgently calls on the Interior Minister of Pakistan and the Government of Pakistan to:
- Immediately halt the detention and deportation of Afghan journalists;
- Address the administrative challenges related to visa extensions and provide a legal and safe framework for residency;
- Ensure the safety and fundamental rights of Afghan journalists who have consistently served as voices of truth, even in exile.
These journalists are not criminals; they are truth-tellers and defenders of freedom of expression who were compelled to flee their homeland to save their lives. Their arrest, harassment, and deportation stand in stark contradiction to international human rights commitments and the principles of free expression.
The Federation of Afghan Journalists in Exile stands in solidarity with all Afghan journalists in Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, and around the world, and calls upon all national and international organizations to take immediate and practical action to protect the lives of these journalists.
