KABUL, Afghanistan: Mohammad Rahmati, managing director of Afghanistan’s Tamadon TV, has reportedly become seriously ill while in Taliban custody, according to informed sources who say he has been denied access to medication and medical treatment.
According to Afghanistan International citing sources, Rahmati suffers from heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure, and that his condition has worsened during his detention.
Rahmati and Tamadon TV employee Mohammad Reza Ehsani have been held for the past many days following orders issued by the Taliban’s justice minister, the sources said. Both men are reportedly being detained at Kabul provincial prison.
Local sources said the lack of medical care has intensified concerns about Rahmati’s health, while members of his family remain deeply worried about his condition.
Jawad Mohseni, head of Tamadon TV, previously warned that if any harm came to Rahmati, responsibility would rest with the Taliban authorities who ordered his detention without a court ruling.
The detentions come amid a broader crackdown on the broadcaster. In recent days, Taliban forces raided Tamadon TV’s headquarters in Kabul and suspended the channel’s operations. Station officials also said that part of the network’s property had been confiscated.
No official statement has been issued by Taliban authorities regarding Rahmati’s reported health condition, the reasons for his detention or the suspension of Tamadon TV.
The case has drawn renewed attention to concerns over media freedom and the treatment of journalists and media executives in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
