Sayed Rahim Saidi, a 57-year-old filmmaker, managing director, and producer of Anar Media, a YouTube-based broadcaster, was arrested by members of the Taliban General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) District 40 on 14 July 2024 near his office. He has been sentenced to three years in prison and is currently serving his sentence in Pol-e-Charkhi prison. During his initial trial, on 18 December 2024, the court accused him of spreading propaganda against the Taliban de facto authorities. Saidi is severely ill, suffering from lumbar disc herniation and prostate issues, yet he does not have access to adequate healthcare, including required medication, and is kept in a cold prison cell. Between July and December, while he was held in GDI District 40, he was allegedly subjected to torture and other ill-treatment, including solitary confinement, and was denied access to the medicine sent by his family. Saidi must be immediately and unconditionally released.
