KABUL (SW) – Violence against journalists across the country surged manifold in 2020 with 11 of them losing lives and many more facing threats and intimidation, press freedom organization NAI said in a report on Thursday.
Abdul Majeed Khalwatgar, chief executive of NAI, told a press conference in this connection that the government has done nothing but issue warning to journalists. He said in 2019, 115 cases of violence against journalists were registered, but in 2020 it increased to 130 cases.
Khalwatgar added that 11 journalists were killed and 20 others were injured in the country in 2020. There were also 33 cases of physical violence, detention, deprivation of liberty and abduction in 2020. Khalwatgar said that the government claims to be investigating the murder of journalists, but it did nothing apart from ‘filling out a form’.
According to him, Afghan media workers are dissatisfied with the government’s role in investigating the murder of journalists. Chief executive of NATI emphasized that the government, despite being aware of security threats against journalists, has only issued warnings.
Referring to the case of Yama Siavash, he added that the government has not paid any attention in this regard despite the presidential palace claiming the government is responsible for protecting the lives of journalists.
He said that targeted killings have led to self-censorship. He added that the interior minister and the head of the NDS had promised to provide guidance to ensure safety of journalists, but a month later there was still no actions in this regard.
According to him, the government must find the perpetrators of targeted killings.
Khalwatgar said access to information has also deteriorated. According to him, in 2020, some 80 complaints from journalists were registered against government institutions in this connection.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the escalation of violence in the country, including targeted killings of journalists, political activists and civil society activists, has raised concerns in the country.
According to the statement, the increase in violence and targeted killings by the Taliban undermines public confidence in the peace talks in Qatar.
ENDS
