AAJA, AAJA Women and Non-Binary Voices, and Others Urge Protection for Journalists in Afghanistan

Update #2 August 17, 2021: Military Veterans in Journalism joins us in urging protection for journalists in Afghanistan.

Update August 17, 2021: The Arab and Middle Eastern Journalists Association (AMEJA) joins AAJA and our Women and Non-Binary Voices Affinity Group in urging protection for journalists in Afghanistan.

The Asian American Journalists Association, our Women and Non-Binary Voices Affinity Group, the Arab and Middle Eastern Journalists Association, and Military Veterans in Journalism urge the U.S. government and international society to take immediate actions to protect Afghan and international journalists, researchers, fixers, translators and other media workers who have risked their lives and their families’ lives for press freedom.

Since 2001, 72 journalists have died in the Afghanistan War. Journalists in Afghanistan have constantly received death threats from the Taliban and supporters. Women journalists are facing even more danger under the Taliban, who have long restricted women’s rights. As the Taliban have seized power in Afghanistan, The Committee to Protect Journalists has warned that journalists in Afghanistan face extreme dangers. Reports show that Afghan journalists, particularly women, are “absolutely petrified.”

We urge governments to include media workers in any humanitarian visa offering. It is an obligation for the U.S. government and international society to provide refuge and help them to leave the country as soon as possible. 

We also urge newsrooms to offer active, equal protection and support to both staff and independent journalists in Afghanistan.

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