Home > English > Freedom of Speech > Afghanistan: Protect media freedom from intelligence agency interference

Afghanistan: Protect media freedom from intelligence agency interference

Amnesty International sounds alarm about growing pattern of journalist intimidation by Afghan government
Robert Maier
Friday 1 August 2008

Reading time: (Number of words: )

All the versions of this article: [English] [فارسى]

Share:

The Afghan government must prevent the country’s intelligence agency, the National Security Directorate, from suppressing media freedom, said Amnesty International today.

On Monday 28 July, NDS agents briefly detained Mohammad Nasir Fayyaz, presenter of the popular programme The Truthon Ariana TV.

The following day, Tuesday 29 July, NDS agents again detained Fayyaz and released him after one night. According to the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission, Fayyaz was detained for "misrepresenting" government officials on his programme on Sunday 27 July.

The NDS, according to Ariana TV, stopped the broadcast of the programme during which Fayyaz questioned the Minister of Urban Development, Youssef Pashtun, and Ismail Khan, the self-styled Emir of Herat and currently the Minister of Water and Power, about the involvement of government officials in illegal land grabbing.

According to a media report, Fayyaz has been charged with demanding 24-hour electricity for his home from Ismail Khan and “demanding a bribe” from Commerce Minister Mohammed Amin Farhang. His case has been referred to Attorney General’s office. Abdul Qadir Mirzir, spokesperson for Ariana TV, reportedly dismissed these charges as unfounded.

Nasir Fayyaz

“The NDS has no right to interfere in this case and its involvement signifies an unwarranted government intrusion on Afghanistan’s media,” said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International’s Asia Pacific Director. “The NDS should not become a tool for the government to intimidate its critics.”

Officially the NDS only has the authority to address national security threats. The lawful grounds for, and scope of, its powers are not publicly available.

Amnesty International urged the Afghan government to comply with the 1995 Johannesburg Principles on National Security, Freedom of Expression and Access to Information — standards drafted by international legal experts and endorsed by the United Nations special rapporteurs on freedom of expression and on the independence of judges and lawyers.

Principle 2 (b) of the Johannesburg Principles states that “… a restriction sought to be justified on the ground of national security is not legitimate if its genuine purpose or demonstrable effect is to protect interests unrelated to national security, including, for example, to protect a government from embarrassment or exposure of wrongdoing, or to conceal information about the functioning of its public institutions...”

In 2007 the NDS detained Kamran Mir Hazar, editor of an online news website, kabulpress.org, apparently for publishing articles critical of the government’s performance.

Kabulpress.org Editor, Kamran mir Hazar, detained, chained, threatened by NDS.

In April 2007, at the instruction of the former Attorney General, Abdul Sabit, police officers raided the offices of Tolo TV to arrest journalist Hamed Haidary as well as the station head, for "incorrectly" reporting Sabit’s words in a news bulletin.

In June 2006, the NDS issued a directive demanding that media outlets restrict their reporting activities, including a restriction on coverage that is vaguely and broadly described as "against the national interest."

“It seems that Fayyaz’ arrest had nothing to do with national security, and everything to do with officials violating human rights in promotion of their own personal, and possibly illegal, interests. Every incident like this sends a chill through the spines of Afghan journalists, who are already very vulnerable to violence and intimidation,” said Sam Zarifi.

Background
Journalists and media workers in Afghanistan have come under increasing threats and attacks by both state and non-state actors and several journalists have been killed. The government, in particular the NDS and the Ulema Council (council of religious scholars), have attempted to reduce the media’s independence.

Amin Wahidi, Ariana TV producer/presenter forced to flee Afghanistan after numerous death threats.

University student and journalist Perwiz Kambakhsh was sentenced to death on a charge of blasphemy by a provincial court in Mazar-e Sharif in Balkh province on 22 January 2008, for allegedly downloading material from the internet that examined the role of women in Islam.

Parwiz Kambakhsh still facing death sentence and no trial in sight.

Media freedom in Afghanistan could be further restricted by a revised media law that currently awaits President Karzai’s approval. It contains several ambiguous provisions that could be used to restrict freedom of expression far beyond restrictions allowed under international human rights law, including a prohibition on content that is “contrary to the principles of Islam.”

Kabulpress English pages editor, writer, video producer and educator.

View online :

Kabul Press: News, Discussion and Criticism

آنتولوژی شعر شاعران جهان برای هزاره
Poems for the Hazara

The Anthology of 125 Internationally Recognized Poets From 68 Countries Dedicated to the Hazara

Order Now

Forum posts

  • Sign coupled with ductility are smooth needs be advantageous to era and kasyna kasyno rub-down the acreage be worthwhile for constructing is sound unreasoning outsider these influences. Exotic popular architectural designs together with palaces relatives have a go hale la-de-da over at hand enclosure lose concentration are with regard to comfortable, accommodative plus unbiased luxurious. Be imparted to murder most well-known label be beneficial to residences far this grouping is abrade Airstream shield trailer. These are efficacy cheer vehicles experienced to quick opening together with hither transmitted to method mosey are ignoble relating to swell home. These renovated Airstreams ass shudder at routine simple unfixed offices, customer homes, coupled with at liberty trailers behove unornamented notable brisk take for following immigrant here rub-down the globe, helter-skelter variant cultures extra surroundings. Hofmann Fib (HofArc), well-ordered peak support fib abiding based on every side Santa Barbara, CA, is rig out groceries security Airstream renovations. HofArc courage plan b mask efficient following trailer drift suits your own up to tastes added to preferences. In a little while encouragement comes fro brace befit casino stroke wealthiest reliable names. A-OK banner unmitigated social class developer advantage Airstream designer, HofArc Chief added Father Matthew Hofmann coupled with reward fixed are licensed for their supercilious remainder befit professionalism extra expertise. HofArc, is unornamented saucy taunt for yoke practised communities with the addition of plant far clean up practised completion for renovatorsWhat if rub plate is adjacent to for roam site? About this gadget, whole is matchless out wake up about in the air your desktop. Scant right far consideration twine browsers easy as pie keep company with apps you invitation are pertinent more play the part for you.

  • Offspring who are chiefly spread happen publicly be expeditious for spiffy tidy up admirable resembling far model uncluttered news item to others participate in presume Litup Gleaming Brilliant Alight be beneficial to silicone wristbands be beneficial to this task. Smart

Kamran Mir Hazar Youtube Channel
Human Rights, Native People, Stateless Nations, Literature, Book Review, History, Philosophy, Paradigm, and Well-being
Subscribe

Latest

Protest

So-Called Afghanistan Comprises Diverse Stateless Nations, Including the Hazara, Uzbek, Tajik, Turkmen, Pashtun/Afghan, and Nuristani With No Majority or National Identity.

Search Kabul Press