Mahdi Ansari, 27, is a journalist who was working with Afghan News Agency. On 5 October 2024, he was arrested by members of the Taliban General Directorate of Intelligence District 40 near his office. He has been sentenced to one and a half year’s imprisonment. During his initial trial, on 1 January 2025, in absence of his family and defence lawyer, the court accused him of spreading propaganda against the Taliban de facto authorities due to his journalistic reports and Facebook posts. While in detention, Mahdi Ansari has faced ill-treatment, including solitary confinement, his mental health has deteriorated, and he has been denied regular family visits. His family was able to meet him after one month of his arbitrary detention and for five minutes only. He must be immediately and unconditionally released as he is detained solely for the peaceful exercise of his human rights.