Pictures of Taliban beating show true horror of life in Afghanistan

While reporting on a protest about women’s rights in Kabul, two journalists say they were arrested and beaten into unconsciousness. WARNING: Graphic.

Journalist Nematullah Naqdi (centre) is helped by his colleagues as he arrives at their office after being released from Taliban custody in Kabul. Picture: Wakil Kohsar/AFP

WARNING: Graphic.

Two journalists covering a women’s rights protest in Afghanistan have said they were arrested by the Taliban and brutally beaten, with pictures of their injuries shocking the world.

Nematullah Naqdi, 28, and Taqi Daryabi, 22, who work for the media outlet Etilaat Roz (Information Daily), were reporting on the protest demanding the right for women to work and be educated on Wednesday in the capital Kabul.

But Naqdi said as soon as Taliban fighters saw him taking photos of the protest, they tried to take his camera.

“One of the Taliban put his foot on my head, crushed my face against the concrete. They kicked me in the head,” he told AFP. “I thought they were going to kill me.”

When he asked why he was being beaten, he said they told him: “You are lucky you weren’t beheaded.”

Etilaat Roz journalists Nematullah Naqdi and Taqi Daryabi show their injuries after the Taliban beating. Picture: Wakil Kohsar/AFP

Nematullah Naqdi winces in pain as his colleagues help him put on a shirt after he was beaten by the Taliban. Picture: Wakil Kohsar/AFP

The pair said they were taken to a police station where they were then put in separate cells.

“They took me to another room and handcuffed my hands behind me,” Daryabi told the BBC. “I decided not to defend myself because I thought they would just beat me even worse, so I lay down on the floor in a position to protect the front of my body.

“Eight of them came and they started beating me … using sticks, police sticks, rubber – whatever they had in their hands. The scar on my face is from shoes where they kicked me in the face.

“I was unconscious after that so they stopped. They took me to another building where there were cells and left me.”

Daryabi said that after about two hours he was released without explanation.

“I could barely walk but they were telling us to walk quickly. I was in very bad pain,” he said.

Etilaat Roz journalists Nematullah Naqdi and Taqi Daryabi show their wounds after being released by the Taliban. Picture: Wakil Kohsar/AFP

When their colleagues learnt of their arrest, three of them – Aber Shaygan, Lutfali Sultani and editor Kadhim Karimiwent – went to argue for their release, but said they had their phones taken off them, were pushed and shoved, and were put into a holding cell.

“We could hear (Daryabi and Naqdi’s) screams and cries through the walls,” Shaygan said.

“They were beaten so bad, they couldn’t walk. They were hit with guns, they were kicked, they were whipped with cables, they were slapped.”

He said the violence was so brutal that Naqdi and Daryabi had lost consciousness from the pain.

Nematullah Naqdi and Taqi Daryabi were beaten by the Taliban after covering a protest in the capital Kabul. Picture: Wakil Kohsar/AFP

Nematullah Naqdi shows wounds on his leg. Picture: Wakil Kohsar/AFP

Taqi Daryabi shows injuries on his back. Picture: Wakil Kohsar/AFP

Eventually all five men were released, with the explanation for their arrest being that the protest was illegal, therefore by covering it they had broken the law.

At the time, protests were not actually illegal, however within hours the Taliban issued a decree saying any protests must be approved 24 hours prior by the Ministry of Justice.

The incident brings into question how free the media in Afghanistan will be to report on events under Taliban rule.

Ahead of the United States’ withdrawal on August 17, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said: “Private media can continue to be free and independent; they can continue their activities … Impartiality of the media is very important. They can critique our work so that we can improve.”