KABUL (SW): Nai- Supporting Open Media in Afghanistan, has pronounced 2016 as the bloodiest year for Afghan journalists.
According to this organization, some 415 cases of violence against journalists have been registered this year, which are significantly higher compared to previous years.
Mujib Khilwatgar, executive director of Nai, told a press conference that the cases of violence against media persons included 14 incidents of murders. According to Khilwatgar, 326 cases of violence against journalists were committed by the Taliban, 64 cases by the pro-government forces and 26 cases by unknown persons. 292 such cases were reported in Helmand, Kunduz, Uruzgan, and Farah provinces alone.
Recently, Nai has also compiled figures about violence against female journalists. 280 female media practitioners were interviewed for the survey in this regard. 43 percent of the responders said their families knew about their work related incidents of violence while 66 percent said their families are unaware of the violence they face.
26.9 percent cases of violence against female journalists were reported to the authorities while 72.7 percent was never reported. According to Khilwatgar, 80 percent of the female journalists in the survey have blamed media organizations for negligence in this regard.
According to Nai, most of these cases were never formally registered due to fear of losing jobs. The survey also noted that of the all cases of violence 7.1 percent were physical, 55 percent were verbal, 26.5 percent were sexual in nature..
Khilwatgar said that the registered cases of violence against journalists will soon be shared with the Ministry of Interior, the Attorney General’s Office and the Presidential Palace. He added that at least 500 journalists have left the country in the past year and a half.
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