Journalists in Jawzjan province during a protest rally today, slammed the decision of the Ministry of Interior (MoI) to cut relations with media outlets. The Journalists with tape-pasted mouths, demanded to MoI to reconsider its latest decision.
Ms. Farida Amini told Afghanistan National Journalists Union (ANJU): “The new procedure applied by the MoI, will definitely impact the process of information sharing with the public. Because it challenges all media family of the country.”
“We elapse an entire day to receive a single and simple news from the authorities.” She added. Therefore, she asked the government to reconsider the decision and open its door to the media outlets.
Nimatullah Nimat, another Journalist in Jawzjan told ANJU: “The MoI deprives Journalists from ensuring their basic right of access to information.” He also added: “Journalists speak on behalf of the public, thus, this decision will put a bad effect on the public.” Moreover, he added: “The sword of Journalists is a single pen, which can be utilized either in a positive way or negative one. The authorities must end this pessimistic view towards media outlets.”
The Journalists protested for over an hour with tape-pasted mouths in front of the Chief of Police Headquarters of Jawzjan Province to show their anger over the new decision by MoI.
At the end, they have submitted a resolution consist of 14 articles to the Chief of Police asking for a reconsideration of the decision. Also, they have mentioned in the resolution that if the decision is not reconsidered, they will probably boycott the broadcasting of any news related to the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) at the provincial level. A response that might spread to other provinces as well.
