Journalists expressed concern over restrictions imposed on their covering security incidents in Kabul.
Jawad Etimad, a journalist, said he was arrested while covering a blast in PD5 of Kabul city. Etimad said he spent two days detained by the Islamic Emirate. Jawad Etimad is working for an online media outlet.
“They prevented me from making footage. They beat me with kicks and punches. And then they arrested me,” he said. But the Ministry of Interior denied any type of mistreatment of Etimad. “The issue is under investigation and if the allegation of mistreatment against him (Etimad) is proven right, the perpetrators will face legal issues,” said a statement of the ministry.
Journalists voiced criticisms that the Islamic Emirate’s forces prevent them from covering the security incidents in Kabul. “When a security incident happens in an area we are going to cover the incident. Unfortunately, we are not being allowed cover the incident,” said Farogh Faizy, a journalist.
The media watchdog organization said restrictions on access to information is not acceptable. “The media has the right to make footage. Whenever there are restrictions on access to information, it is a violation of the law of access to information,” said Masroor Lutfi, head of the Afghanistan National Journalists Union.
However, the Islamic Emirate’s spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid earlier announced that the mass media law which was drafted by the previous Afghan government is valid. The Afghan journalists have now called for the upholding of the mass media law.—Tolo News
