December 13, 2020

The lethal new normal of shooting the messengers in Afghanistan

topic:	Freedom of Expression
located:	Afghanistan
editor:	Shadi Khan Saif

With its bloodstained modern history, Afghanistan has almost become synonymous with anything and everything miserable.

The ugly and meaningless war in the country has taken its toll on the country’s young and emerging journalists recently, with at least five of them paying the ultimate price with their lives.

With such back-to-back tragedies, the country keeps sliding further into the darkness, as those spreading the light of information fear for their lives.

The way these vicious and unforgiveable acts are orchestrated clearly indicates all the forces of evil active in Afghanistan are much ahead in planning and execution from those claiming to be defenders of humanity.

The murders of journalists, messengers – whose sole responsibility is to keep people informed and educated – also clearly indicate strategic political objectives continue to be sought through violence in the country despite the US-Taliban peace deal.

The journalists and representatives of the younger generation of Afghans born in war, but fed-up with all the ideas behind it were killed in cold blood. The smiling face of journalists such as Elyas Dai from Helmand and the brave young Malalai Maiwand of Nangarhar are no more in this land, simply because someone somewhere did not like them for their jobs: journalism.

Taking into consideration all the genuine vagueness of circumstances in war-zones with multiple players and powers, these atrocities must at least be categorically condemned, documented and fairly investigated for eventual justice, some day.

But, they are not.

All lives matter, however, hiding behind the smog of vagueness should not allow any, be it the Taliban, the government or the international community, the opportunity to silence the voices they dislike in such a barbaric manner.

Human dignity is embedded in demonstrating peaceful coexistence, particularly with those contrasting one’s views in a peaceful manner. And, that is where it is also pivotal for journalists not to lose sight of their genuine task as messengers, not propagators for one or the other side.

As the warring parties continue with their one-off talks of peace in the comfortable environment of the Gulf state, Qatar, it is not the time nor the moment for friends of humanity to abandon the war-torn country, and especially messengers of truth there.

Image by Amber Clay

Call to Action

Free Press for all everywhere

Support now