The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, has condemned the attack targeting the Vice President of Afghanistan, Abdul Rashid Dostum, on 22 July. The suicide bombing in the Afghan capital claimed dozens of civilian lives including that of Mohammad Akhtar, who worked for Agence France Presse (AFP).
“I condemn the terror attack that claimed the life of media worker Mohammad Akhtar and so many other civilians,” said the Director-General. “Terror cannot be allowed to suppress democracy and freedom of expression, two intertwined values which lie at the heart of UNESCO’s mandate.”
Mohammad Akhtar, a longtime driver for AFP, was on his way to work when a bomb exploded near Kabul airport killing at least 23 people.
UNESCO promotes the safety of journalists through global awareness-raising, capacity-building and a range of actions, notably the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.
See also: UNESCO condemns the killing of journalists.
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Media contact: Sylvie Coudray, s.coudray@unesco.org, +33 (0)1 45 68 08 91