NAI calls on International Community to fulfill commitments on freedom of speech

A leading press freedom organization in Afghanistan-NAI, called on the international community to fulfill its commitments to Afghanistan based on protection of freedom of expression, access right to information and lack of censorship by government.

Supporting open media in Afghanistan says that the WARSAW summit leads by a part of the government itself which is a censorship of information and access to information.

“Those who hold the WARSAW summit, they themselves have captured the access to information. We urge the international community to announce its commitments on protection of freedom of speech achievements in Afghanistan,” said Sidiquallah Tawhidi, chairman of NAI.

NAI stressed that the National Unity Government (NUG) should guarantee to support the freedom of speech and media in WARSAW summit.

“The government is obliged to provide access to information of residents and supports media, particularly those media outlets that are in a bad economical situation,” Tawhidi added.

However, the Afghan government has approved the access information law, but the journalists still face serious problems for receiving information about contracts and government documents.

Although Afghanistan enjoys the right of freedom of expression relative to its neighbors in the region, media freedoms remain fragile, and violence against journalists persists.

With the withdrawal of international troops, many journalists and editors fear an increase in these abuses.