ANJU announcement in response to fatwa of jihad against media
During a hearing of the Lower House with the minister of culture and information on 15th of Jun, Parwan MP Abdul Satar Khawasi called for jihad against a number of media outlets on the basis of “un-Islamic” programming.
His speech roused backlash from other parliamentarians and media agencies.
ANJU condemns his statement, which is counter to Afghanistan’s laws including the country’s mass media law. His speech damages press and media activities in the country.
ANJU declares that no individual and no group can act beyond the boundaries of the law. ANJU believes that the media and other areas of life in the country face challenges, but the media will continue with its activities.
We believe that the problems facing Afghan media is a consequence of violations of the law by the minister of culture and information himself. For the last three years he has blocked the implementation of mass media regulations. For example, Article 41 of the mass media law states that two elected media representatives must sit on the High Media council. Also, articles 42-43 of the law detail the formation and responsibilities of media outlets.
ANJU calls on the administration, parliament and Supreme Court to enforce laws whose oversight is the responsibility of the information and culture minister. As stated, no acts nor external statements outside the legal framework of the mass media law is legitimate or acceptable.
