human rights defender

Mahdi Ansari

Actions and Campaigns

Urgent support needed

Legal assistance for fair trial

Financial assistance for his family

Medical and psychosocial support to address the effects of ill-treatment

HRD's year of birth

1996

HRD's Gender

Man

Type of HRD

  • Journalist/Blogger

HRD's thematic area of engagement

  • Civil and political rights
  • Economic, social and cultural rights
  • Minorities’ rights
  • Women's rights

HRD's geographical origin

Rural

Current Status

Released

HRD's bio and work

Mahdi Ansari, is a journalist who worked with the Afghan News Agency.

On 5 October 2024, he was arrested by members of the Taliban’s General Directorate 40th of Intelligence near his office in Kabul.

On 1 January 2025, following a trial held in the absence of his family and legal representation, he was sentenced to one and a half year in prison for allegedly spreading propaganda against the Taliban through his news reports and social media posts.

During his detention, Mahdi has faced ill-treatment, including solitary confinement, and his mental health has deteriorated. He has been denied regular family visits, with only one brief visit allowed a month after his arrest.

He is currently held in Pul-e-Charkhi prison.

Detained since

Oct 5, 2024

Date of release

Mar 20, 2026

Charge(s)

  • Anti-government propaganda
  • Spreading fake news

Sentence

He was sentenced to 18 months in prison by a Kabul court on January 1, 2025, for "anti-regime propaganda", following his arrest on October 5, 2024.

Latitude: 34.51988221044194

Longitude: 69.34802560944671

Geolocation of detention

Country or area of detention

Region of detention

  • Asia: Southern Asia

Location of detention - City/Town

Kabul

Location of detention - Facility

Pol e Charkhi prison

Allegations / reports of ill-treatment

He has faced ill-treatment in detention, including solitary confinement where his mental health has deteriorated.

He has been denied regular family visits. His family was able to meet him for the first time one month after his arrest and for five minutes only. Currently, visits are allowed once a week for five to six minutes via a glass window.

Recent case update / evolution

His family, only permitted to visit him after one month of his detention, are now allowed to visit him only

Any other relevant documents

https://www.ifj.org/es/sala-de-prensa/noticias/detalle/category/comunicados-de-prensa/article/afghanistan-journalist-sentenced-on-anti-regime-charges

https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/asa11/8988/2025/en/

https://kabulnow.com/2025/02/rights-group-calls-for-immediate-release-of-journalist-mahdi-ansari-from-taliban-custody/

https://www.afintl.com/en/202501083090

https://amu.tv/155690/

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