Afghan Female Journalist Arrested By Pakistani Police, Says Press Freedom Group

The Afghanistan Journalists Support Organisation (AJSO) has reported that Pakistani police have arrested Afghan journalist Freshta Sadaat and transferred her to prison.

The organisation strongly condemned the treatment of refugees and journalists by Pakistani authorities, describing it as a threat to freedom of expression. It called for Sadaat’s immediate release and raised alarm over the worsening conditions Afghan journalists face in Pakistan.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, AJSO expressed deep concern over the increasing risk of arrest for Afghan journalists residing in Pakistan, particularly those without legal documentation.

According to reports, Pakistani police detained Sadaat at her residence in Islamabad on Monday evening. She had previously worked as a reporter for Radio Bahar in Kapisa province and had fled to Pakistan to escape Taliban threats. Her family told Afghanistan International that Sadaat does not possess valid residency documents but had already secured a visa to travel to France. They warned that deporting her to Afghanistan could place her at serious risk of arrest by the Taliban.

“Such actions further deteriorate the current situation of Afghan journalists,” AJSO stated. “These are individuals who fled their country due to threats and restrictions imposed by the Taliban and are now facing insecurity, legal challenges, and unjust treatment in third countries.”

The organisation has urged embassies and international institutions to expedite the processing of Afghan journalists’ cases and to expand support programmes to assist those at risk.