KABUL (SW) – Journalists in Afghanistan faced at least 198 instances of violence in 2018, an alarming 18 per cent increase from the previous year.
NAI – Supporting Open Media in Afghanistan, a local watchdog, shared the findings of its ‘Media Monitoring’ report for 2018.
Abdul Majeed Khalwatgar, chief executive officer NAI, told a presser in this connection that 12 media houses in Afghanistan were attacked this year. He noted 12 journalists got killed and 20 more sustained injuries in the line of duty.
This comes as a local radio station in Herat province was attacked by armed men on Thursday.
The NAI chief executive officer said pro-government forces are responsible for 55 cases of violence related to journalists followed by 23 cases of violence caused by the Taliban, 14 per cent by unknown people and 8 per cent by common people.
Meanwhile, Shah Hussain Murtazawi, spokesman for the president, has labelled these findings as groundless. He said the armed rebels are responsible for all instances of violence against journalists.
Last year, 166 cases of violence were reported against journalists.
ENDS
