Brussels Morning: 'MEPs sent Open Letter to the Vice-President of the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy'

Belgium (Brussels Morning Newspaper) According to The Free Speech Hub, an organization supporting open media in Afghanistan, local news channel journalists Waris Hasrat and Aslam Hijab were arrested by the Taliban on Monday 31 January and released on Wednesday 2 February. Their detention came a day after a guest criticized the Taliban regime during a live debate broadcast by Ariana. 

These events occurred in the context of escalating attacks on dissidents and media freedom, which human rights organizations insist represent a grave threat to the right to freedom of expression. 

Hundreds of journalists have left Afghanistan since August, fearing Taliban reprisals or because of problems associated with practicing their profession under the new rules. According to a December survey by Reporters Without Borders, at least 40% of media outlets in Afghanistan have disappeared and more than 80% of women journalists have lost their jobs since the Taliban takeover(2).

1: Will the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy ask for clarification regarding the circumstances and the reason for the arrest and detention of the journalists?

2: What measures have the VP/HR and the Commission taken or envisage taking to ensure the Taliban authorities refrain from arresting journalists, activists and academics and how do they intend to hold them accountable for their ongoing attacks on media freedoms and freedom of expression?

Sincere regards

Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI)

 Miriam Lexmann (PPE)

 Mounir Satouri (Verts/ALE)

 Cyrus Engerer (S&D)

 Fulvio Martusciello (PPE)

 Klemen Grošelj (Renew)

 Olivier Chastel (Renew)

 Sylvie Guillaume (S&D)

 Dino Giarrusso (NI)

 Joachim Kuhs (ID)

 Petras Auštrevičius (Renew)

 Salima Yenbou (Verts/ALE)

 Alessandra Moretti (S&D)

 Chiara Gemma (NI)

 Maria da Graça Carvalho (PPE)

 Francisco Guerreiro (Verts/ALE)

 Brando Benifei (S&D)

 Patryk Jaki (ECR)

 Carlo Fidanza (ECR)

 Isabel Santos (S&D)

 Ernest Urtasun (Verts/ALE)

 María Soraya Rodríguez Ramos (Renew)

 Massimiliano Smeriglio (S&D)

Pina Picierno (S&D)

 Stelios Kouloglou (The Left)

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