Salman Akhlaqi, owner of the independent Rah-e-Farda TV, has been detained by the Taliban since September 6, 2026, when security forces raided the broadcaster’s office in the capital Kabul.
Taliban intelligence forces raided Rah-e-Farda TV’s office, forced the broadcaster off the air, and took Akhlaqi to an undisclosed location. Akhlaqi was detained on the order of the Taliban's ministry of justice, according to a Rah-e-Farda executive who spoke to CPJ on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal.
The raid followed mounting pressure on Rah-e-Farda’s management over the station’s coverage of a Taliban crackdown the previous week on a Shiite Muslim seminary in western Kabul.
In February, Taliban authorities had shut down Rah-e-Farda TV for three months and revoked the license of its former owner, Mohammad Mohaqiq, before transferring ownership to Akhlaqi and allowing it to begin operating again.
Taliban Deputy Spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat did not respond to CPJ’s text messages in September 2026 requesting comment.