JournalismPakistan.com
October 15, 2018

Photojournalist M. Asif Hakimi was among 22 killed in a bomb blast on an election gathering in the northern province of Takhar, Afghanistan on October 13.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate the Afghan Independent Journalists Association (AIJA) has strongly condemned the attack and demanded immediate action from the government to guarantee the safety of the media in Afghanistan.

 Hakimi was killed when a motorcycle bomb was detonated around midday targeting the campaign rally of Nazifa Beg, a female candidate from Rustaq district of Takhar.

Hakimi was among 22 people killed, and a further 32 were injured. Afghanistan is holding parliamentary and district council elections on October 20. Election-related attacks have surged since the registration of candidates and votes began in July, and at least eight candidates and many other civilians have been murdered in attacks.

 AIJA President Rahimullah Samandar Khan said: “The AIJA strongly condemns the incident and calls upon the government to investigate the incident immediately and take stronger measures to protect journalists during election campaigns and coverage.”

 According to IFJ records, 16 journalists and media staff have lost their lives in Afghanistan in 2018 making it the deadliest country for journalists in the world.

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: “The IFJ strongly condemns the killing of journalist Asif Hakimi in an explosion in Takhar province in Afghanistan. The IFJ calls on the Afghan government to investigate and take stronger measures to protect journalists during election campaigns as Afghanistan goes into the election on October 20 amid the threats of bloody violence. It’s time that the Afghan government ensures the high level of security for the journalists to cover the election to ensure that election are held fairly, and people are continuously informed at this critical time.” – IFJ media release/Photo AIJA