On November 7, former Tolo News anchor, Yama Siawash, was assassinated as a result of an IED explosion. Afghan Journalists Safety Committee (AJSC), considers this act crime against humanity and condemns it in the strongest terms.
According to article 5 and article 75 of the Afghanistan constitution, ensuring security and safety of citizens is duty of the government. As freedom of expression cannot be exercised without safety, the government needs to implement all necessary measures to protect journalists and media. In the past two decades, there have been numerous incidents of murdering journalists. However, government’s investigation of such cases and the government’s measures to prevent them has not been satisfactory.
AJSC strongly urges the Afghan government to identify and prosecute the perpetrators of this case. It also requests the government to inform the media community of its progress with regards to investigation of this case. AJSC will be seriously following this case and requests the government to remain vigilant.
Moreover, to prevent such incidents in the future, AJSC calls on Afghan government to take the following measures:
1- The Afghan government should revisit its security and intelligence policies and measures with regards to protecting journalists and media.
2- Afghan Media community is in a state of anxiety. By introducing new safety measures, the government needs to provide assurance so that journalists can work without fear.
3- Security agencies need to create an exclusive security coordination and management committee under the framework of the Joint Committee to Protect Journalists and media and ensure efficient information sharing and risk management with media and journalists.
4- Any security measures must be taken in accordance with the Afghan constitution and should respect the privacy of journalists and media workers.
Afghan Journalists Safety Committee will be following up the above items with the government so that journalists and media can work in a safe environment.
