Khalid Qaderi, an Afghan journalist, has been sentenced to one year in prison

Afghan journalist Khalid Qaderi

In the western city of Herat, a Taliban military court sentenced Afghan journalist Khalid Qaderi to one year in prison for allegedly spreading anti-regime propaganda and committing espionage for foreign news outlets, according to news reports.

Abdul Qaderi did not have access to a lawyer, and Taliban authorities forced him to sign a document agreeing not to appeal the verdict. 

The journalist was notified of the ruling 10 days following his appearance in court, according to sources, who did not provide exact dates for the proceedings.

Qaderi is a reporter and producer for Radio Nawruz, an independent broadcaster in the province of Herat, and also publishes poetry, according to sources.

Taliban intelligence forces detained Qaderi in Herat on March 17, and his family was unaware of his whereabouts for almost a week, during which time he was beaten in a detention center, according to media reports and a journalist who spoke to CPJ on the condition of anonymity.

It has been documented by CPJ that the General Directorate of Intelligence plays an increasingly prominent role in controlling news media and intimidating journalists in Afghanistan.