Beating of reporter condemned

KABUL National Journalists’ Union (ANJU) on Wednesday strongly condemned the beating of a reporter with a private television channel.

Hussain Nazari, a reporter of TV3, was roughed up in the Chaman-i-Hazoori area, where he had gone to cover a National Olympic Committee (NOC) event.

A statement from the ANJU said the attackers, whose identity was yet to be ascertained, also snatched from the journalist a video camera.

Some journalists and mass media members believed NOC officials were behind the incident. They said the reporter was thrashed after he exchanged harsh words with the Olympic committee head at a press conference.

NOC officials confirmed the verbal clash, but said they had no information regarding the assault on the reporter. Some elements, trying to defame the committee, might have attacked reporter, they argued.

ANJU Executive Director Mohammad Fahim Dashti said there was no justification for violence against reporters. “Kabul police, with the cooperation of NOC, should identify and punish the criminals in a way to deter future attacks on journalists.”

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