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Government seeks to impose restrictions on Media
A number of Afghan media officials declared that the government is trying to impose to put pressure and impose restrictions on media.
They stated that several officials of media outlets summoned by the ministry of information and culture is contrary to the constitutions and considers the beginning of restrictions on media.
Simultaneously with the beginning of May 3, World Press Freedom Day, the ministry of information and culture summoned officials of four newspapers due to alleged of violation of media.
Nazari Paryani, director of Mandegar newspaper said, “The threatening written to four newspapers in the World Press Freedom Day indicates that the government is trying to implement the rule of violence on media outlets.”
“The ministry of information and culture’s action that summoned officials of four newspapers is alarming and putting pressures on media outlets may cause the return of past.” Muhammad Jawad Sultani, director of Jame Baz newspaper said.
Meanwhile, Afghan media watchdog; Nai-supporting open media in Afghanistan warned that any pressure and censorship by the ministry of information and culture would harm the freedom of speech in Afghanistan.
The watchdog also considered the activities of complaint commission of media contrary to the constitutions.
“While the minister of information and culture must prepared a large program for the World Press Freedom Day, but unfortunately, he summoned officials of several media due to accusation of media violations which is a threat against media by the government itself,” Sidiqullah Tawhidi, head of Supporting Open media in Afghanistan said.
In the meantime, the executive officer, Abdullah Abdullah called for the clarification of media officials summoned by the ministry of information and culture.
Press freedom is one of the important achievements of the past ten years of current government of Afghanistan, which has been obtained with the involvement and support of the international community.
Now that the gradual withdrawal of the international troops are speeding up and the talks with the Taliban, who from the roots of their believe are against the freedom of speech and media activities, is getting serious, it puts the press freedom in an awkward position and uncertain future.
The number of mass media is growing remarkably every year. Most of these media are dependent on the international donor funding in one way or another.
Ten years after the involvement and presence of international community in Afghanistan, the deadly incidents and violations against reporters and media personnel are about the same as it was in the first years of post Taliban. Media activists in Afghanistan still face serious challenges.
Although media outlets have proliferated in the private sector in Afghanistan, the Afghan press is hobbled by insufficient security, lack of access for their investigations, serious revenue and funding shortfalls, stalled legislation for freedom of the press, change-wary socio-cultural norms that tend to undercut the wide dissemination of news and skirt in the presentation of scientific/technological and foreign information.
Media have managed to produce serious talk shows about the topics of great importance the country is currently facing. The non-government media monitor and observe the situation via their round table discussion programs.
These programs usually criticize the government activities, the policies of involved countries into Afghanistan affairs as well as the policies of the international community.
Discussing the mentioned topics, unveiling the wrongdoings of government and international community, disclosing the involvement of high ranking government officials in corruption and exposing the irregularity and hidden secrets of the society are among the main positive achievements of media in the past ten years in the country.
Reported by Rafi Sidiqi
Acting Minister of National Defense Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid has said that no destructive groups including Daesh have physical presence in Afghanistan, adding the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) will not allow anyone to pose threat to any country in the region from the Afghan soil.
Mujahid made the remarks in a meeting with a delegation from Malaysia in Kabul on Thursday.
According to a statement released by the Ministry of Defense, Mujahid highlighted Malaysia’s “good treatment” of Afghan refugees and its long-standing relations with Afghanistan, and said that Malaysia is a powerful Islamic country and visits should increase.
He added that with the establishment of the Islamic Emirate, occupation and war ended in Afghanistan, and the country is fully secure.
Based on the statement, the Malaysian delegation called Afghanistan a friendly country and while emphasizing on comprehensive cooperation, it assured that what they have seen in Afghanistan will be shared with the authorities of their country.
The European Union signed an agreement worth 17 million euros with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to improve access to basic services, increased economic opportunities and protection for Afghans on the move and their host communities in Afghanistan.
The needs of women and girls are a particular focus of the programme, EU said in a statement released on Thursday.
The statement noted that from January 2023 until April 2024, over 1.5 million Afghans returned from Pakistan and Iran.
“I am deeply moved by the hardship returnees face when being deported to Afghanistan. In a country suffering from poverty and climate change, and in a city that just saw devastating earthquakes, this truly is a crisis within a crisis.”, said Peteris Ustubs, Director for the Middle East, Asia and Pacific of the European Commission’s Department for International Partnerships during the signing ceremony at the IOM transit centre in Herat.
Raffaella Iodice, EU Chargée d’Affaires a.i. to Afghanistan, added “The solidarity of the Afghan people towards their brothers and sisters is an inspiration. We must assure that communities hosting and helping new arrivals are supported. The partnership with IOM ensures access to essential services and provides protection for Afghan returnees and their host communities. As women and girls can be particularly affected, we make sure that all members of society can benefit”.
“IOM’s continued partnership with the EU has been critical in enabling our teams to reach hundreds of thousands of Afghan returnees and other vulnerable communities in the country”, said IOM Afghanistan Chief of Mission, Maria Moita. “Thanks to this renewed commitment, we will be able to focus on addressing the immense challenges in the areas of return and contribute to reintegration, social cohesion, and longer-term solutions for those communities.”
This additional contribution is part of a 5-year programme that is being implemented across Afghanistan and in four countries in the region. It builds on the EU’s previous support to IOM to improve the wellbeing of Afghans forced to return to the country, EU said.
Acting Minister of Interior Affairs Sirajuddin Haqqani has said in a meeting with a delegation from Malaysia in Kabul that Malaysia is an advanced country and that Afghanistan should use is experiences.
According to a statement released by the Interior Ministry, Haqqani, in the meeting on Thursday, emphasized that security is ensured in Afghanistan and unity among Afghans has been restored.
He stated that the Islamic Emirate wants to have close relations and engagement with the world, especially Islamic countries.
The Malaysian delegation consists of representatives of the Ministries of Interior and Defense, and advisers of the Prime Minister’s Office.
According to the statement, a member of the delegation provided information about Malaysia’s capabilities in cyber security and tackling cyber crime, and said that Malaysia will share its experiences in this field with the Islamic Emirate.
In the meeting, the two sides also discussed the fight against drugs, police training, bilateral cooperation and exchange of experiences between Malaysia and Afghanistan.
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