At first, the French authorities believed that the release of the Franco-Afghan journalist Mortaza Behboudi, arrested in Kabul on January 7, was a matter of weeks. Nearly two months later, concern begins to dawn. One could, in fact, believe that the Taliban regime intended to send a message to Afghan and foreign journalists about its desire to ban any form of protest, criticism or even information deemed negative. Another fear has now arisen: that the leaders want to keep it as a bargaining chip to loosen the international vice that today isolates the country.
Afghan of origin and refugee in France since 2015, Mortaza Behboudi, aged 28, had decided to return to Afghanistan for a report, believing, no doubt, that his French passport would protect him. It lands on Thursday, January 5. Friday being a day off, he waits until Saturday January 7 to request his accreditation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a compulsory work permit, valid for the duration of his stay in the country. Without this sesame, it is forbidden to exercise one’s profession as a journalist. “Any infraction in this matter constitutes a misdemeanor”said again, at the beginning of February, WorldAfghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi.
‘Spying charges’
It was on his way to the offices of this ministry that Mortaza Behboudi was checked at one of the many roadblocks now installed in the capital by the Taliban. After verifying his identity, the police extracted him from his vehicle. He is now in the hands of the Taliban intelligence services in one of their detention centers in Kabul. The presentation of his French passport did nothing. According to our information, his arrival would have been reported as soon as he crossed the border, his name appearing on a “black list” of people deemed undesirable in Afghanistan, established by the Taliban authorities.
This list, of which The world was able to have confirmation on the spot, includes names of media, journalists and individuals who may have press cards but are considered political activists, a category in which Mortaza Behboudi seems to have been classified. After living in Iran, where his parents had taken refuge and where he had started a career as a photo-reporter, he then went to France. He has since collaborated with many media, including France Télévisions, TV5 Monde, Arte and Radio France, and created, with exiled colleagues, an information site, Guiti News, whose editorial line is openly very critical of the Afghan Taliban.
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