Afghan journalists severely beaten by Taliban for covering women’s protest

Two Afghan journalists were left severely battered and bruised after being beaten by Taliban fighters for covering a women’s protest in Kabul.

Photographer Nematullah Naqdi and reporter Taqi Daryabi revealed their horror injuries, including severe welts and bruising to their backs and legs, on Thursday.

The pair say they were beaten with batons, electrical cables and whips after being detained for several hours by Taliban fighters a day earlier.

Afghan newspaper Etilaat Roz journalists Nematullah Naqdi (L) and Taqi Daryabi show their wounds in their office in Kabul after being released from Taliban custody
Afghan journalists Nematullah Naqdi (left) and Taqi Daryabi show their wounds in their office in Kabul after being released from Taliban custody.
WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP via Getty Images

“One of the Taliban put his foot on my head, crushed my face against the concrete. They kicked me in the head… I thought they were going to kill me,” Naqdi told Agence France-Presse.

When he asked why they were being beaten, Naqdi said he was told: “You are lucky you weren’t beheaded.”

Daryabi added: “We were in so much pain that we couldn’t move.”

The pair were detained by the Taliban for several hours before being released.
The pair were detained by the Taliban for several hours before being released with lots of bruising.
WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP via Getty Images
Taliban Afghan journalists beaten
Daryabi (right) said he and Naqdi :were in so much pain that we couldn’t move.”
WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP via Getty Images

The pair, who work for Afghan outlet Etilaat Roz, were covering the protest on Wednesday outside a Kabul police station that called for an end to Taliban violations on women and girls.

Naqdi said a Taliban fighter immediately tried to grab his camera when he started taking photos of the protest.

The photographer said the Taliban was rounding up anyone filming or taking photos of the demonstration.

In this picture taken on September 8, 2021, Afghan newspaper Etilaat Roz journalists Nematullah  Naqdi (R) and Taqi Daryabi sit in their office
The harrowing ordeal is unfortunately not the first time journalists have been beaten by the Taliban since they returned to power.
WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP via Getty Images
Afghan newspaper Etilaat Roz journalists Nematullah  Naqdi (L) and Taqi Daryabi show their wounds in their office in Kabul
The pair work for Afghan outlet Etilaat Roz.
WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP via Getty Images

Both Naqdi and Daryabi say they were taken to a nearby police station where the beatings unfolded.

They were released after several hours, Naqdi and Daryabi said.

Dozens of Afghan reporters have reportedly been beaten or accosted in recent weeks — despite the Taliban’s claims they’ll uphold press freedoms under the new regime.

source: nypost.com