Taliban release 3 Afghan TV staffers detained over media ban

By KATHY GANNON
Associated Press

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban have released three employees of Afghanistan’s largest television station who were detained over a report that the country’s new rulers had banned all broadcasts of foreign drama series. The three from TOLO TV were taken from the station on Thursday night. Head of the station’s TOLONews department said he and the station’s legal adviser were released within hours. One of the station’s journalists and news presenter was kept in custody overnight and released early on Friday evening. The Taliban gave no explanation for the arrests or for their ban, the latest restriction imposed since their takeover of the country in mid-August.