Media given no importance in peace talks: Tawhidi

KABUL’s presence in media, media activities and freedom of expression.

Sediqullah Tawhidi, advocacy in charge at AJSF, on the occasion of International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists here in a conference, said that media’s importance faced a huge challenge in the peace talks.

“We should have cohesion, support of civil society in protecting our achievements,” he said.

He said the committee registered more than 80 cases of violence against journalists in 2020 including four murders, 70 beating and threatening and six cases of kidnapping.

He said the figures of violence would drop if there was no impunity for perpetrators of violence against journalists and if these cases were timely responded to.

Tawhidi criticized the government and said avoiding to share information with journalists had become a culture among government spokespersons and those appointed as media in-charge for offices were not aware about their activities.

Shahrzad Akbar, head Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), who was also present in the conference, said that end of impunity and access to information would be turned into a reality in the country.

She said, “Freedom of expression should be a serious issue in the peace negotiations.”

mds/ma