By Abasin Zaheer
Three journalists were killed, seven wounded and six others detained this year by the government, armed opposition and other circles in Afghanistan, a media advocacy group said on Monday.
Thirty-four journalists were beaten and 26 others threatened and insulted during the period, NAI, which supports open media, announced at a press conference in Kabul.
NAI chief Sadiqullah Tawhidi told reporters the slain journalists included one female, Samani Dunia Zakiri, who had been working for a local media outlet in central Parwan province. She was killed mysteriously, but her case could not be investigated so far.
He said the victim’s family says she had been poisoned to death, but her colleagues claim she had been under pressure from her family to quit the job.
Tawhidi identified another victim as Mohsin Hashami, who worked for a local radio station in central Kapisa province. There had been rumors Hashami was killed by his family members who were opposed to his job.
Tawhidi said police had detained three of Hashami’s brothers in connection with his murder, but had released one of them without any trial.
The remaining two brothers were later acquitted by the provincial primary court for the lack of evidence. Tawhidi said the case was still sub judice, but there had been no progress.
The third journalist killed was Muzammil from eastern Nangarhar province, where he worked for a local radio station, Tawhidi said, adding the journalist was killed by unidentified gunmen and his body was found in the Aliabad district of northeastern Kunduz province.
Muzammil had been killed three weeks after being kidnapped, but security officials remained tightlipped over details about his murder, which is still being investigated.
The NAI chief violence against journalists such as beating, insulting and blackmailing continued to threaten media personnel and so far 76 incidents of the kind have been recorded this year.
He said the perpetrators included Taliban, government officials, ordinary citizens, private sector officials and sometimes protestors.
In 2013, the Afghanistan Journalists Federation, an umbrella organisation of nine media bodies, was established as a first-ever step toward forging unity among journalists in the country.
This year also saw four television channels, 11 daily, 24 weekly and two monthly newspapers came into being and addition to one periodical paper and one magazine.
Tawhidi said the number of TV channels had increased to 100, including government and privately run. Up to 200 radio stations as many press and online media outlets operated in the country, he concluded.