The officials of journalists’ support organizations expressed their concerns over the security situation of journalists in Herat province in a joint news conference today.
They also criticized the conduct of security forces in response to the raid on Khrushid TV station and the headquarters of Afghanistan’s National Journalists Union (ANJU), and the assault on the Association of Women Journalists in Herat while asking the government and senior security officials to seriously investigate these cases and take necessary steps to ensure the security of journalists’ support organizations.
Meanwhile the head of Herat Police Department while condemning the assault on the provincial office of journalists’ support organizations in a special meeting with the officials of these organizations and underlined that the police of the third security zone has been taken accountable for not taking sufficient action in regards to those incidents and one of its officers has been dismissed.
Nevertheless Abdulqayum Pedram Qazizada the representative of the Center of Afghan Journalists in Herat province also pointed out the numerous challenges in the face of journalists in Herat and expressed concerns over the bad condition of access to information in that province.
Moreover the officials of journalists’ support organizations assert that there has been 18 incidents of violence against journalists during this year in the western provinces only.
The journalists in Herat also emphasize on the preservation of journalists’ lives and ensuring the security of media centers. They ask the government to keep its promises in regards to security and ensure the endurance of the freedom of speech.
