Disappearance of Iranian journalist Mahmoud Saremi

Afghanistan
This article is more than 26 years old

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

11 August 1998

1 minute read

(CPJ/IFEX) – According to government sources in Tehran, members of the Taliban militia abducted Mahmoud Saremi, Afghanistan bureau chief for the official Iranian news agency, IRNA, along with 10 Iranian diplomats who were in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif when Taliban forces secured the area on 8 August 1998. IRNA reports that Saremi was taken by […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – According to government sources in Tehran, members of the
Taliban militia abducted Mahmoud Saremi, Afghanistan bureau chief for the
official Iranian news agency, IRNA, along with 10 Iranian diplomats who were
in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif when Taliban forces secured the area on 8
August 1998. IRNA reports that Saremi was taken by Taliban agents to the air
base at Shindand, and moved on Sunday night to government headquarters in
Kandahar, in southeastern Afghanistan.

Recommended Action


Send appeals to authorities:
  • expressing concern for Mahmoud Saremi’s safety, adding that, after having
    undergone stomach surgery just two weeks ago, he could be suffering from
    poor health
  • calling on them to use the powers of their offices to launch an immediate
    investigation into this matter
  • asking that, If Mahmoud Saremi is indeed in the custody of Taliban forces,
    they ensure that he not be mistreated, and that he be released immediately

    Appeals To



    
His Excellency Mullah Mohammad Omar
    
c/o The Honourable Abdul Hakim Mujahid
    
Embassy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
    
Islamabad, Pakistan
    
Fax: +92 51 824 504

    Please copy appeals to the source if possible.

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