Lynne O’Donnell writes for the Columbia Journalism Review on the state of media freedom in Afghanistan. Read in full here.
Afghan Cleric's 'Fatwa' Against Media Makes Life Even More Dangerous For Journalists
Afghanistan was already considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists, a consequence of decades of war and religious extremism.
But for some Afghan journalists, the risks have been amplified after a cleric in the western city of Herat recently declared jihad, or holy war, against the country’s besieged media.
Read RFE/RL's Frud Bezhan's article in full here.
BBG Honors Fallen Radio Azadi Colleagues
The plaques honoring fallen Radio Azadi journalists Sabawoon Kakar, Abadullah Hananzai, and trainee Muharram Durrani were dedicated at the BBG Journalists Memorial at the BBG headquarters in Washington, DC, on June 6, 2018.
Messages Of Condolence And Solidarity For RFE/RL’s Afghan Service
Thousands of messages of support continue to pour in to the Afghan Service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) following the loss of three colleagues in the coordinated suicide bomb attacks that ravaged Kabul, Afghanistan on April 30. The militant group Islamic State has claimed responsibility.
In the weeks that followed the attacks, numerous senior Afghan officials visited RFE/RL’s Kabul bureau to pay tribute to the slain journalists and express solidarity with the Radio Azadi team, as the service is known locally. Visits were made by Defense Minister General Tariq Shah Bahrami, Minister for Interior Affairs Wais Ahmad Barmak, Minister for Information and Culture Dawar Rasooli, Minister for Telecommunication Khoshal Aryubi, Adviser for Social Affairs Khyal Mohammad Hussaini, and Presidential Spokesperson Shah Hussain Murtazavi.
Journalists and representatives of several local and international media outlets, including BBC, AFP, Ariana News, 1TV, and The New York Times, among others, also visited the bureau to pay their respects.
Meanwhile, Radio Azadi has received messages of condolence by telephone from the US embassy in Kabul, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the Lower House of the Afghan National Assembly, the Embassy of Canada, Kabul’s Police Chief, and the Chief of Police of Kunar Province.
Radio Azadi Bureau Chief Hamid Mohmand says he has received email messages from the United Nations Development Progam (UNDP), NATO forces, the Human Right Commission of Afghanistan, the British Embassy in Kabul, and Peshgam TV.
Messages of sympathy and support have also poured in on social media from the general public. One person shared on Twitter, “Another heartbreak. My eyes ran out of tears for the talent we lost.