Freelance journalist killed in Afghanistan

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 22 September 2015

A freelance journalist named Yama Behroz was killed by an IED in Faizabad, Afghanistan. The International Federation of Journalists has condemned the attack and called for an investigation.

Summary

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Tuesday condemned the murder of a young freelance journalist in Faizabad, the capital of Badakhshan province in Northern Afghanistan. The IFJ called on the Afghan government to investigate the murder and bring those responsible to justice. According to reports, Yama Behroz was killed when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded at his doorstep on September 18.

Yama, a recent journalism graduate, was working as a freelance journalist with a local media organization. Some of the reports suggested that the IED was planted at his door, and he was then called and asked to come out of the house. The police said the motive behind the attack remained unknown and an investigation was launched. No group has so far claimed responsibility behind the incident.

The IFJ said: “The IFJ condemns the murder of a young freelance journalist in Afghanistan and urge the Afghanistan government and authorities to act swiftly to arrest those behind the murder and punish them as soon as possible.” The IFJ added: “The safety situation in Afghanistan has seen some improvement in recent times but without proper government plans and actions for security of journalists, it would take no time to deteriorate.” This year, the IFJ has recorded two journalist murders.

In 2014, the IFJ recorded nine journalist murders in Afghanistan, including the murder of Palwasha Tokhi Miranzai, who was brutally murdered at home after returning to Afghanistan upon finishing her journalism studies in Thailand. The Afghan Journalists Safety Committee recorded at least 39 cases of threat and violence against journalists in the first half of 2015, which is fewer than the same period last year. - IFJ