Afghanistan: Taliban “Mujahideen” Beat, Harass Selgay Ehsas Beaten, Force her to Record Video Message

Location: Kabul, Afghanistan

Date: August 5, 2022

Selgay Ehsas, a sports presenter with the independent broadcaster Radio Dost, was hounded in public and beaten by several men armed with rifles, who called themselves the “Mujahideen” or Taliban members. When an audio clip of Selgay recounting the incident was leaked on social media, Taliban members detained her father and uncle, releasing them only after she recorded a video scripted by the Taliban, denying that the group was involved in the attack on her. After the video was published, members of the Taliban continued to harass and intimidate the journalist and her family, forcing them into hiding.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism vehemently condemns the attack on Selgay and the continued threats to the journalist and her family. We extend support to the journalist and demand accountability from the Taliban members involved in assaulting, harassing and intimidating her.

On July 20, several armed men approached Selgay in the Bala Bagh area of Surkh Rod, in the eastern Nangarhar province, as she walked home. The perpetrators fired a gunshot in the air, startling her and making her drop her phone, according to the journalist and news reports. As Selgay went to pick up her phone, a man hit her on the back of the head with a heavy object that she believed was a gun. Before she lost consciousness, Selgay heard one of the perpetrators saying that they had attacked her because she did not “sit at home despite their warnings”. 

Selgay told the Committee to Protect Journalist that locals of the area took her to a clinic while she was unconscious for immediate medical aid and later to the Fetame Zahra Public Hospital, where was treated for a bruised back, head pain and dizziness. The journalist confirmed that no personal belongings were stolen from her and that she believed the assault was in retaliation to her work as a female journalist.

Shortly after recovering from the assault, Selgay recorded an audio message recounting the attack and shared it with a friend. In the audio clip, which was later shared online without Selgay’s knowledge, the journalist questioned whether the Taliban supported attacks on women. 

Subsequently, on July 23, the Taliban members detained Selgay’s father and uncle. They showed up at her house and demanded to know why she had insulted them and questioned their authority. Succumbing to pressure by the Taliban members and her family, who cited fears to their life because of her work, Selgay recorded a video message, scripted by the Taliban members and denying their involvement in the attack on her. Only after this video was published, the perpetrators released the journalist's father and uncle. 

However, Selgay said, the threats to her and her family continued, forcing them all to into hiding. 

On July 24, local news reports cited Taliban-run Bakhtar News Agency as saying that the attack on Selgay was prompted by personal enmity. Taliban-controlled media also published the video she was forced to record.

Reporting from a war-torn country, where journalists face threats from multiple actors, including militants, insurgents and invading forces, Selgay is no stranger to threats and intimidation. In 2020 and 2021, as the Taliban gained ground amid United States' troops withdrawal, Selgay worked as a presenter for Nangarhar-based broadcaster Enikass Radio and TV and faced death threats. Last year, shortly after four of her female colleagues were killed, an improvised explosive device (IED) was placed in her family vehicle. Several of her family members were injured in the blast but Selgay was not in the vehicle when the IED exploded. 

The Coalition  For Women In Journalism has kept a close watch on Afghanistan in recent years and expresses deep concern over the declining space in the country for women in media. We extend support to Selgay Ehsas and all female journalists navigating a dangerous and difficult terrain in the aftermath of 20 years of war and invasion. The assault on Selgay, and subsequent threats and intimidation she was subjected to are extremely  worrying. We call on the Taliban to hold their members accountable and allow women journalists to work in safe conditions without fear of reprisal. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

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