Violence against Journalists – A Main Barrier to Freedom of Speech

Attorney General’s Office (AGO) Spokesman, Jamshid Rasouli, mentioned this issue during a press conference on “Analysis of Violence against Journalists.”

The conference was conducted on Monday, March 31, 2017, at the Government Media and Information Center.

The event was held to reveal findings of the Committee on Investigating Cases of Violence against Journalists. The Committee consists of institutions and government officials supporting rights of the journalists. Members of the committee include representatives from AGO, National Directorate of Security, Ministry of Interior Affairs, Ministry of Information and Culture, and Afghanistan’s Independent Journalists Association.

The Committee has investigated 679 cases of complaints received from journalists and findings indicate 60 cases of murder, 46  instances of injury, 222 instances of assault (beating), 86 illegal arrests, 29 kidnappings, and 238 cases of insult (disrespect) against journalists.

According to Mr. Rasouli, 252 out of 679 cases have been ignored for specific reasons and said, “Four hundred and one cases have been referred to the detective and security units, and seven to the AGO and the remaining to the Supreme Court.”

The AGO Spokesman explained that media is known as an arm of the government; therefore, AGO investigates cases of violence against journalists seriously and legally. Moreover, the AGO is committed to strictly defend rights of journalists in accordance with the law.