At least 14 media persons have been wounded in the latest attack on journalists in Mazar-e-Sharif, the provincial capital of northern Balkh province. However, reports suggest a media person was martyred and 14 other media suffered injuries in the blast.
The so-called Islamic State claimed responsibility for the deadly incident and said that one of its affiliates has carried out the attack.
The attack received condemnations at the national and international levels.
The people of Afghanistan condemned the attack and called it against legitimate media freedom.
The Ministry of Information and Culture of the Islamic Emirate said that security for journalists has been provided in all parts of the country, but this was the first incident that may have been carried out due to some negligence.
“Since the Islamic Emirate came to power, we don’t have any murder cases of journalists and this (attack) is the first incident and this happened due to their negligence,” said Hayatullah Muhajir Farahi, deputy Minister of Information and Culture.
UNAMA denouncing the attack and on its twitter page, called it “a despicable attack on journalists” in Mazar-e-Sharif, the provincial capital of Balkh province.
The mission on its twitter said that Afghan reporters showed immense courage and must be protected.
Also, the UN special rapporteur, Richard Bennett, referred to the blast and said: “The attack on journalists is another blow to freedom of expression in Afghanistan and increased protection is necessary.”
The chargé d’affaires of the EU delegation in Afghanistan, also condemned the two attacks carried out in Balkh province, Afghanistan of the past days.
“This violence needs to stop… Journalists risk their lives for their work and have to be protected,” she twitted. “They are Not a Target!”
The U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan, Thomas West, also condemned the blast, saying that he is “deeply saddened by the dreadful attack on journalists at the Tabyan Cultural Centre.”
“We believe in the resilience of the Afghan people and their capacity to rebound,” West said.
The security forces of the Islamic Emirate are responsible to ensure the security of the entire people of Afghanistan, particularly journalists who are unbiasedly reflecting the truths and are not taking part the side of any special group, while covering any events.
Prior to the holding of any event, the security institutions should take security of the journalists and help them to continue their work in any part of the country.
Likewise, as one of the journalists believes, the government should make a clear mechanism for the safety of journalists countrywide.
Journalists should not be attacked
