Three repeated cases of beating reporters, in three days, is extremely worrying
At least five reporters have been beaten up or faced with physical violence in three cases and in three different province during last three days.
This wave of violence started with beating up Nusratullah Iqbal, Bukhdy News Agency reporter, by Parwan governor and his bodyguards in Kabul on Friday evening 26.7.2013.
On next evening two reporters of “Seemay-e- Mehr” TV channel were beaten up by security officers in Takhar province.
The next day on 27.7.2013 a reporter and a cameraman of “Tanweer” TV channel in Pulkhumri city had been seriously injured by the armed people who were reportedly related to ex-mayor of the city.
Afghanistan, National Journalists Union (ANJU) has contacted the local officials for every one of the cases and asked them to solve the problem. But we believe that this situation is extremely worrying and needs more attention to prevent the consistency of such incidents, and to prosecute the people who caused the problems.
ANJU has requested Interior Ministry officials to conduct a joint meeting with journalists support organizations. The officials of Interior Ministry have responded positively to the request.
ANJU asks civil society institutions as well as MPs to raise their voices in opposition to the violent acts against reporters.
We also strictly criticize the Ministry of Information and Culture because it had no stand against those incidents.
According to the Constitution Ministry of Information and Culture has to support journalists and provide them safety in their professional work. Practically the Ministry not only does not support the journalists but does not hear the advocacy voices of journalists support organizations as well.
As an independent institution or a member of Afghanistan Journalists Federation, ANJU considers itself responsible to all journalists of the country, and it will never stop efforts for restoring journalists rights and freedom.
Afghanistan National Journalists Union
Executive Council
