Son of veteran Afghan journalist killed after disappearing. New questions about Bashir Hatef's family's security

Kabul _ August 30, 2026: Abdullah Hatef, son of Mohammad Bashir Hatef, a veteran Afghan journalist and media activist, was killed after disappearing for several days and his body has been handed over to his family
According to sources close to the family, Abdullah Hatef was buried in Kabul today, Sunday, August 30

Sources close to Hatef's family say Abdullah had disappeared in Kabul a few days ago and his body was found on August 29

Official details about the location of the body, the manner of his death and the identities of the perpetrators of this incident have not yet been released.

The incident comes just weeks after his father was released from Bagram prison, raising concerns about the security situation of Mohammad Bashir Hatef’s family.

Mohammad Bashir Hatef, a veteran Afghan journalist, was arrested in Kabul on July 23 or 24, 2025, by Taliban intelligence and the group’s Ministry of Publicity forces. He was detained alongside Abuzar Sarem Sarpali and Shakib Ahmad Nazari.

The Afghanistan Journalists Center and media sources report that the arrests were part of the Taliban’s broader crackdown on journalists and media outlets.

The Afghanistan Journalists Center reported that Hatef was later sentenced to one year in prison by a military court affiliated with Taliban intelligence on charges of “propaganda against Taliban rule.” The organization said he was tried without proper access to a lawyer.

Hatef was released from Bagram prison on July 23, 2026, after more than a year in prison, and joined his family in Kabul.

Bashir Hatef’s return home after a year in prison brought hope and joy to his family, but this joy did not last long, according to sources close to the family.

After Hatef’s release, his son Abdullah disappeared. After several days of searching, the family was finally faced with a new tragedy when his body was found on August 29.

However, sources close to the family consider his death a “murder” and demand clarification on the circumstances of his disappearance, his whereabouts, and the manner of his death.

Hatef’s family and the Afghan media community expect a transparent and independent investigation into the case, and the results of the forensic and security examinations to be made available to the family and the public.

Kabul Times News attempted to find more independent information about Abdullah Hatef's death for this report, but as of publication, credible international sources and recognized human rights organizations have not published an independent report on the event. Therefore, the allegations of "targeted killing" and its motive remain allegations until the results of the investigation are clear.
Shahpour Nayebzadeh_Kabul Times News