KABUL - Twenty journalists were killed in Afghanistan last year that saw violence against the community increasing compared to previous years, a survey released on Thursday said.
The findings of Afghanistan Journalist Safety Committee (AJSC) show 169 cases of violence against journalists happened in 2017.
AJSC head Najib Sharif told a press conference here that last year’s crimes against journalists included 20 murders.
He said terrorist groups had claimed responsibility for all journalists killed. He said Daesh rebels killed 18 journalists and Taliban killed two last year.
“There are three major reasons behind the increasing violence against journalists --- impunity from punishment, targeted attacks and worsening security situation of the country,” Sharif added.
“Our findings show the level of violence increased by 67 percent in 2017 over 2016 when 101 cases of violence including 13 murders took place,” he added.
Qadim Weyar, deputy head of the committee, attributed 51 percent of the cases of violence against journalists last year to militant groups and 34 percent to government officials.
He said most of last year’s cases happened in capital Kabul and northern regions.
Weyar said last year’s cases included 61 injuries, 32 insult, mistreatment, 23 beating, 15 threatening, 12 detention and six expelling from reporting area.
AJSC officials say the committee’s performance improved in 2017 compared to 2016 but stress the need for implementation of the committee’s decisions on preventing threats against journalists. (Pajhwok)