S2, Ep 9: Sanjar Sohail, Afghan journalist and publisher

Silenced

On 15 August 2021, veteran journalist Sanjar Sohail watched in horror as the Afghan capital Kabul fell to the Taliban once again.

Though he was safe at his home in Canada, Sanjar was responsible for a network of reporters across Afghanistan. Fifteen years earlier, he had set up Hasht-e-Subh. The media outlet had gained notoriety for its investigative reporting, pioneering a new type of journalism previously unfamiliar to Afghans. Its reporters were known for their tenacity, digging up stories that those in power wanted to bury. Now that the Taliban had returned, the lives of all those who worked for the platform were at immediate risk.

In this episode, Nicola speaks to Sanjar about his recollections from the day of the takeover; how his network of reporters operate under the Taliban, and what he and his colleagues do to ensure sources still inside Afghanistan are protected.

Presented by Nicola Kelly
Producer: Kevin Caners