Media supporting body concerned over ''targeted killings'' of journalists


(MENAFN- Afghanistan Times) AT News

KABUL: The NAI, an agency active in supporting the open media in Afghanistan expresses concerns over an increase in targeted killings of media workers, accusing the government of neglecting to bring the attackers to justice.

Mujeeb Khalvatgar, head of the agency said Tuesday on the World Press Freedom Day that journalists are the most victims of targeted killings, bomb blasts and other dimensions of the ongoing war.

More than 350 journalists who were interviewed said neither themselves nor their family members feel safe amid increased targeted killings.

According to the survey, targeted killings, attacks on women journalists, group attacks on media workers, ignoring of press freedom in the peace talks, increasing violence, government inattentiveness to survivors of the media are the major concerns the journalists are facing with.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior said, a committee was set up in the ministry to assess journalists concerns and complaints and address their problems.

Deputy spokesman of the ministry Ahmad Zia Zia said that measures have been taken to arrest journalist's killers.

Zia said Police seriously investigated all cases of journalists, by arresting some of the culprits who had have hand in the targeted killings of journalists and efforts are underway to detain the rest of them.

According to NAI, at least 150 media workers have lost their lives in the last 20 years.

AliyasDayee  a reporter for Radio Azadi, YamaSiavash, a former reporter for Tolo TV, Malala Maiwand, a reporter for the private television in eastern Nangarhar province were among the journalists who recently lost their lives in targeted killings.

But family of slain journalist Malala Maiwandcalled on the government to hold her killers accountable.

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