Afghanistan: CFWIJ expresses grave concern for the safety of women journalists in the country.

April 5, 2021 - The recent wave of violence against women journalists in Afghanistan has led several women to quit their jobs, fearing for their lives. The attacks escalated following the peace negotiations between the U.S. government and the Taliban leadership. The assaults and murders are widely believed to be carried out by extremist groups looking to derail the process. CFWIJ condemns the relentless attacks against women journalists and demands Afghan authorities to take action. 

Journalist Sahira Saleem resigned from her job several weeks ago, fearing an attack on her life. The resignation came soon after the murder of three Afghan women journalists last month. According to Sahira, “In such a condition, we fear everyone; they may kill us and fear that it will be my turn this time.” She went on to add, “After the recent attacks, many women journalists and government staff resigned or preferred to stay at home.”

At just 24 years old, Alias Razia has a similar story. Alias quit her job after witnessing the assassination of three women polio vaccinators in the city of Jalalabad. According to Alias, despite the many efforts she made to build a career, it doesn’t appear to be worth the risk the profession now poses. Alias claims that Jalalabad has become a hotspot for hit-and-run assassinations that specifically target women.

Their fears are terrifyingly well-founded. Zabiullah Farhang, an official at the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, attested, “14 women have been killed and 22 others wounded since the start of 2021.” Of these 14 women, seven were killed last month in Jalalabad. 

Women journalists are also being forced into hiding as their names appear on kill lists circulated on social media by extremist groups. Amidst it all, the citizens claim that authorities seem to remain silent. There appears to be a fair bit of confusion regarding who is responsible for the aforementioned attacks. While Nangarhar's Governor, Ziaulhaq Amarkhil, blamed Daesh, who subsequently accepted responsibility, other government officials denied the accusation and blamed the shootings on so-called mafia circles active in the city. Citizens and loved ones of those who have lost their lives to these heinous crimes appear to be justifiably disillusioned by the investigation process and its lack of direction. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is extremely concerned about the safety of women journalists in Afghanistan. The Afghan authorities need to take stringent action towards protecting women citizens. This is an emergency situation that demands attention domestically and internationally. We urge the Afghan government to ensure the safety of women journalists and bring the attackers to justice.