The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) extends its full

support to the campaign of protests organised by the Afghan Independent

Journalists’ Association (AIJA) to demand justice for two journalists murdered

within a day of each other last week.

In the first of these, Jawed Ahmad, also known as Jo Jo, was driving in

the southern Afghan city of Kandahar

on March 10 when he was shot dead by unknown men in a vehicle that had pulled

up alongside his car. Ahmad had spent 11 months in United

States military detention in the Bagram airbase near Kabul and was released

only six months ago.

The second involved the shooting of Munir Ahmad Amil, a journalist in the

news division of Emroz TV, at an army checkpoint in Kabul on March 11.

The AIJA, and IFJ affiliate, is also concerned for the safety of another

journalist, Ghulam Mohammad Masoomi, based in Kandahar. A journalist with Tolo TV and

contributor to numerous print publications, Masoomi has reportedly received

death threats from unknown sources.

“The IFJ fully supports the AIJA and the broader media community in the

effort to ensure that media personnel in Afghanistan enjoy a safe and secure

working environment,” said Jacqueline Park, IFJ Director for the Asia-Pacific.

“We believe this is especially important this year since Afghanistan

will shortly enter a cycle of elections in which the future of its democratic

transition will be determined.”

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific

on +612 9333 0919

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 120 countries