Joint Declaration of Afghanistan National Journalists’ Union, freedom of expression and media institutions
Media Watch Organization, Afghanistan Journalist’s Free Association, Afghanistan National Journalist’s Union, Journalist’s Immunity Committee, Committee to Protect Journalists and South Asia Media Association in Afghanistan (SAFMA-Afghanistan), in a joint press conference declared the following:
- Mr. Habiburahman Ibrahimi, IWPR and Barkhaleek Weekly correspondent has been detained by US Army, beaten up and spend one week inside detention center. Although, after the release of Mr. Ibrahimi, request for compensation and restoration of his dignity has been officially sent to President Office, Information and Culture Ministry and Afghanistan Human Rights Independent Commission, but none of these organizations has responded.
While we condemn any kinds of illegal arrestment and violence against journalists, also denounce the Indifference of the institutions responsible for these cases, and we once again strongly want these institutions to pursue this case with the seriousness.
- Two days before Mr. Haji Zabihullah Alam, Bakhtar News Agency correspondent was attacked by unknown armed people in eighth district of Kabul. He was beaten up; his pocket money and some other stuff were stolen as well.
However, journalist organizations have asked the security establishments to pursue the offenders, but still there is no sign of action.
We believe that the protection of journalists and other media activists are the main responsibility of the security establishments; therefore, we request them to prevent repetition of such incidents and seriously pursue the case of Mr. Alam.
- During last two weeks the Ministry of Information and Culture and the Media Complaints and Violation Investigation Commission (which is an illegal body) intimidate media, especially the visual media with different excuses.
While we insist that the media shouldn’t broadcast any kinds of scenes which are against law, also condemn any unlawful action by anybody, and declare that we will resist them.
While we emphasis that our media should avoid publishing images incompatible with community law, to prevent any unlawful action against the media from any source may be, we strongly condemn we declare that in such actions, we stood in earnest.
Note: This press conference was conducted in Afghanistan National Journalists’ Union by its initiative.
