Two Afghan journalists were seriously ill-treated and injured after being beaten by Taliban fighters for covering a women’s protest in Kabul.
Photographer Nematullah Naqdi and reporter Taqi Daryabi on Thursday revealed their horrific injuries, including severe bruises and bruises to his back and legs.
The couple say they were beaten with batons, electric cables and whips after being detained for several hours by Taliban fighters the day before.
“One of the Taliban put his foot on my head, smashed my face against the concrete. They kicked me in the head … I thought they would kill me, “Naqdi told Agence France-Presse.
When asked why they were beaten, Naqdi said they told him, “You’re lucky they didn’t behead you.”
Daryabi added, “We were in so much pain that we couldn’t move.”
The couple, who work for Afghan dam Etilaat Roz, covered the protest on Wednesday in front of a Kabul police station calling for an end to Taliban rape of women and girls.
Naqdi said a Taliban fighter immediately tried to grab the camera when he started taking photos of the protest.
The photographer said the Taliban were gathering anyone to film or take photos of the demonstration.
Both Naqdi and Daryabi say they were taken to a nearby police station where the beatings took place.
They were released after several hours, Naqdi and Daryabi said.
Dozens of Afghan reporters have reportedly been beaten or attacked in recent weeks, despite claims by the Taliban that they will defend press freedoms under the new regime.