The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, today condemned attacks in Afghanistan that have claimed the lives of a total of eleven journalists from various domestic and international media, alongside numerous civilians, on 25 and 30 April.
“I condemn the recent brutal attacks in Afghanistan that claimed the lives of journalists Ahmad Shah, in Khost, journalists Maharam Darani, Shah Marai Fezi, Ebadollah Hananzi, Sabvon Kakeker, Norozali Rajabi, Ghazi Rasoli, Ali Salimi, Salim Talash, and Yar Mohammad Tokhi in Kabul, alongside many other civilians, as well as the shooting of Abdul Manan Arghand in Kandahar,” said the Director-General.
“These heinous attacks highlight the great risks journalists take in the performance of their duties. Those responsible for such crimes must be brought to justice. My thoughts go to the families of the victims and to the people of Afghanistan”, Ms Azoulay concluded.
The deadliest of these attacks, in Kabul on 30 April, consisted of two blasts that killed nine journalists alongside rescue personnel and other civilians. BBC journalist Ahmad Shah was shot in Khost, hours later.
Abdul Manan Arghand, who worked for television broadcaster Kabul News and Chinese news agency, Xinhua was shot on 25 April in Kandahar.
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: George Papagiannis, g.papagiannis@unesco.org, +33 (0) 1 456 817 06