KABUL (SW) – The journalist fraternity continue to feel unsafe amid prevailing climate of fear and job insecurity in the country.
Hamid Seighani, a former employee of Ariana News, was killed in an explosion in the Dasht-e-Barchi area west of Kabul yesterday as violence and threats against journalists continued. A number of journalists, expressing concern about the increase and continuation of threats against them, say that they have no guarantee of safety in life and work.
“Unfortunately, violence against journalists is increasing every day, and no practical guarantee has been given to save the lives of journalists and to prevent violence and ill-treatment by the new regime,” said Mansour Niazi, a journalist in Kabul. “As journalists, we do not see any guarantee that our lives will be safe.”
Soheila Yousefi, another journalist, emphasizes that threats against journalists are increasing and that no attention is paid to journalists and media outlets in this regard. “All journalists have neither job security nor the safety to their lives,” she said. “It is a matter of concern that we are losing journalists every day and that no institution is paying attention.”
But Hojjatullah Mujaddidi, a member of the commission of inquiry into journalists and the media affairs, says that as a result of the efforts of media support institutions, violence against journalists has decreased compared to previous weeks and more efforts are being made.
However, after the takeover of the Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan, the institutions supporting journalists have repeatedly reported that the situation of journalists has deteriorated and said that hundreds of journalists are leaving the country.
