Kabul: A photo showing two journalists thrashed by the Taliban, with injury marks on their back, have shocked people and stoked fears of what may be in store for the future under their rule.
Taqi Daryabi and Nemat Naqdi, from the Kabul-based media outlet Etilaat-e Roz, were covering protests by women in the Afghan capital calling for an end to Taliban violations of the rights of women and girls on Tuesday.
According to their employer, members of the Taliban allegedly took the two men to a police station and put them in separate cells before brutally beating them with cables.
They were both released on Wednesday and have been receiving medical treatment in hospital for injuries to their backs and faces.
Zaki Daryabi, editor-in-chief of Etilaat-e Roz, claimed that the duo was beaten for four hours.
He added: “Under constant and brutal torture of the Taliban, the reporters lost consciousness four times.”
Notably, despite promises of a more inclusive regime, the Taliban have moved to snuff out mushrooming opposition against their rule.