Private company guards assault journalists in Afghanistan

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published 8 years ago

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate the Afghan Independent Journalists Association (AIJA) have condemned the assault on two television journalists in Surkhrud district of Nangrahar province in eastern Afghanistan on June 13.

The IFJ demanded immediate investigation into the incident and punishment to those responsible.

Security personnel of a private construction company assaulted Ziar Khan Yaad of TOLO News and Sabawoon Sahil of Maiwand TV for their critical reporting about the ongoing road construction. They were also confined in a room for a few hours and harassed. They were released after mediation by AIJA and other media activists. The journalists were reporting  on the delay in construction of the Nangrahar-Kabul road and late payments to the laborers.

The district police claimed that three security guards had been arrested for investigation for violent behaviour with journalists. The office of the Nangrahar governor promised AIJA leadership that they would conduct a fair investigation.

AIJA President Rahimullah Samandar said: “We call on the Nangrahar police and administration to investigate the case seriously and bring those responsible to the justice.”

The IFJ said: “The assault and detention of journalists by security guards of a private company to curb critical media contents is highly condemnable, and is only possible when impunity for crimes against journalists is high. The IFJ condemns the assault on journalists in Nangrahar province in Afghanistan, and urges the authorities to immediately punish those responsible for the act.” – IFJ media release