Curb violence against journalists, govt asked

KABUL): A media advocacy group on Sunday asked the government to take urgent measures to quell growing violence against journalists, saying 31 cases had taken place over the last two months.

Afghanistan’s media support organisation NAI said a dozen incidents of violence against journalists had occurred during the same period last year.

NAI Chief Executive Officer Mujibullah Khilwatgar told a news conference in Kabul most of the incidents involved government officials, especially security forces.

“We ask the government to tell us what reason is behind the escalating violence and want it to resolve the problem urgently,” he said, pouring scorn on the intellectual elite in the government.

The NAI chief said the Ministry of Information had failed to address the problems of journalists, calling the Media Violations and Complaints Assessment Commission (MVCAC) an illegal entity. He said the commission’s status had been discussed with legislators.

Khilwatgar also said foreign aid to the country was declining at a time when the nation was approaching the presidential elections.

mm/ma/mud

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