234 media outlets closed in last 6 months: AIJA

KABUL (Pajhwok): Afghanistan Independent Journalists Association (AIJA) says 1,970 female journalists have lost their jobs in the last six months.

Farhad Behrooz, AIJA deputy head, talking to a meeting held to celebrate International Women's Day, said that the day was celebrated at a time when 80 percent of women journalists had lost their jobs.

He said that out of a total of 2,398 journalists, 1,970 of female journalists have lost their jobs in the last six months.

After the regime change in the country, 234 of total 532 active media outlets were shut down, he said. He asked the government and media support organizations to provide financial support to the media so it would help them to sustain.

Meanwhile, FarkhundaMohibi, a former reporter for Ayna TV, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the media had not been in a good economic position since long ago but its problems even worsened after the regime change in the country.

She said the main reason behind closure of media outlets was their economic issues, which she added was also the reason she lost her job.

"After our media organization was closed, we approached several other media outlets but they told us that they cannot employ more people as they are also faced with economic problems,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Afghan Women's Institute for Peace and Freedom also celebrated International Women’s Day in a gathering today in Kabul.

Jamila Safi, a member of the organization, said, “We welcome the recent decree of the leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan on women's rights and the reopening of schools and universities for girls.”

She called on the government to provide employment opportunities for women in government offices.

ZabihullahMujahid, a spokeswoman of the government, in a tweet on the occasion of Women’s Day today said that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is committed to upholding sharia rights of all Afghan women.

He added that International Women's Day was a better opportunity for Afghan women to demand their sharia rights

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