Afghanistan: 30 cases of violence against journalists, the majority perpetrated by Taliban

More than 40% of the cases recorded by the Afghanistan National Union of Journalists were physical blows and another 40% were verbal threats of violence, said Masorro Lutfi, director of the group. A journalist was assassinated.

Most of the incidents in September and October were documented in provinces in Afghanistan outside the capital Kabul, but six of the 30 cases of violence took place in the capital, the agency said.

• ISIS-K launches an assault on the Taliban in Afghanistan: who are they and how much power do they have?

At a press conference on Wednesday, Lutfi said that while most incidents of violence – or threats – were perpetrated by members of the Taliban, three of the 30 cases were committed by unknown persons.

The report comes when Taliban rulers of Afghanistan they try to open diplomatic channels with the international community, largely reluctant to formally recognize their government. They try to position themselves as responsible rulers who promise security for all.

The vice minister taliban Culture and Information Officer and spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, told The Associated Press that they are aware of cases of violence against journalists and are investigating them in order to punish the perpetrators.

“The new transition and lack of professionalism of our friends caused it”said Mujahid, who promised that the problem would be solved.

The Islamic State extremist group claimed responsibility for an attack by gunmen in early October in which journalist Sayed Maroof Sadat was killed in the eastern province of Nangarhar, along with his cousin and two members of the Taliban.

Since the United States withdrew from Afghanistan in late August, three journalists, including Sadat, have died. Alireza Ahmadi, a reporter for the Raha news agency, and Najma Sadeqi, a presenter for the Jahan-e-Sehat television channel, were killed in a suicide attack at the Kabul airport during the US military withdrawal.