Dear Friends,

Mortaza Behboudi, a journalist with French and Afghan dual nationality, has been detained in Kabul for no good reason since his arrest on 7 January. We said nothing for a month while repeatedly trying to get him freed. Finally, we decided to let the world know about his imprisonment and, together with 15 French media outlets and production companies for which he has worked, to issue an appeal for his immediate release.

Behboudi found a refuge in France many years ago after being threatened in Afghanistan. He returned to the country of his birth on 5 January for the purpose of reporting but was arrested by the Taliban within 48 hours. We hope that our message will reach the Afghan capital and be heard in the offices of the authorities who took the decision to arrest him and who hold the key to his release. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has established a channel of communication with the Taliban authorities and messages have already been sent.

This journalist’s detention is utterly nonsensical. He needs our immediate support so that he can recover his freedom.