In a recent development in the Ghor province, the Taliban have reportedly detained the chief of a private radio station, Abdul Salam Samim, for broadcasting messages from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

According to reliable local sources speaking to the Hasht-e Subh Daily on Friday, January 5th, Samim, the head of Radio Seda-ye Adalat (Voice of Justice Radio), spent a night in Taliban custody two days ago.

The reason behind his arrest, as confirmed by one source, was the dissemination of UNAMA messages through the radio station’s Facebook page.

The UNAMA messages, initially shared with local Ghor media for publication but later removed, underscored the significance of an educated population for a country’s prosperity. It emphasized education as a vital investment in a nation’s development, advocating for a fair and inclusive education system where both boys and girls can learn.

Interestingly, several other media outlets in Ghor also published and subsequently deleted these messages.

As of now, the Taliban in Ghor have not provided any comments on this incident.

The UNAMA, when contacted regarding the matter, has not issued any statements or indicated a potential request for the dissemination of these messages through Ghor media.

However, during a conversation with Hasht-e Subh Daily, a UNAMA employee mentioned that the organization has not been involved in specific projects, especially those related to disseminating awareness messages to local media, over the past two years.

This development is noteworthy given the broader context of the Taliban’s stringent restrictions on media outlets and journalists across the country since their takeover.