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April 16, 2025 -Afghanistan/Pakistan –
Afghan journalist Freshta Sadeed was briefly detained in Islamabad by Pakistani police on April 14, 2025, as part of the country’s intensified crackdown on undocumented Afghan nationals. Sadeed, who had worked for Radio Bahar in Kapisa province, fled Afghanistan after the Taliban’s return to power due to threats against her life as a female journalist. Her detention sparked outrage among press freedom advocates and human rights groups, who feared for her safety and potential deportation.
Held for 72 hours at the Haji Camp detention facility, Sadeed was released on April 16. Though she lacked valid residency documentation in Pakistan, she reportedly had secured a visa to travel to France, where she planned to seek asylum. Advocacy organizations like the Afghanistan Journalists Support Organization (AJSO) issued urgent calls for her release, warning that returning her to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan could be tantamount to a death sentence.
Her case is emblematic of the broader crisis facing Afghan journalists in exile. Since Pakistan began enforcing stricter immigration controls, particularly targeting Afghan refugees, many media professionals have been caught in the crosshairs. Just days after Sadeed’s arrest, another Afghan journalist, Zahir Bahand, was also detained in Islamabad, raising alarms about the systematic targeting of exiled media workers.
The backdrop to these events is Pakistan’s growing pressure to repatriate hundreds of thousands of Afghans, many of whom lack formal documentation but fear persecution if forced to return. For journalists, the danger is especially acute. Since the Taliban takeover in 2021, media freedom in Afghanistan has deteriorated sharply, with many journalists facing arrest, violence, or disappearance.
Sadeed’s eventual release brought temporary relief but underscored the fragile situation for Afghan exiles. While international advocacy helped secure her freedom, many others remain at risk. Human rights groups are urging Pakistan to honor its international obligations to protect refugees and uphold freedom of the press. Sadeed’s story is not just one of survival, but a stark reminder of the continued threats faced by Afghan journalists, even beyond their country’s borders.
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