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