IFJ Seeks Probe on Kunduz Radio Attack
2021-01-20 IFJ Seeks Probe on Kunduz Radio Attack
Kabul (BNA) The International Federation of journalists (IFJ) on Tuesday vehemently condemned the attack on a radio station in northern Afghanistan.
While denouncing the incident, IFJ called on the Afghan government to investigate the attack on Zohra Radio by a mob led by a local imam in Kunduz province on January 15. The radio station’s equipment was damaged and its office vandalized. The Afghan Independent Journalists’ Association (AIJA) also condemned the attack.
Mohsen Ahmad, the director of the Zohra Radio, accused a local mosque prayer leader of directing the crowd to attack the radio station.
IFJ
Afghanistan: Zohra Radio vandalized
A mob of nearly a dozen people led by the imam of a local mosque attacked Zohra Radio in north eastern Kunduz province on January 15 damaging the radio’s equipment and vandalizing the office. The International Federation of journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate the Afghan Independent Journalists’ Association (AIJA) condemn the attack and urge the Afghan government to investigate the case. Zohra Radio studio after being vandalized. Credit: Facebook
According to Mohsen Ahmad, the director of the Zohra Radio, the Imam of Firooz Kohi Mosque directed a crowd to attack the radio station at around 13:30 pm accusing the station for playing the music and songs that disturbed Friday prayer. Ahmad said the mosque followers vandalized the station even without knowing the source of the music that affected the prayer session. Due to the damage of the equipment, Radio Zohra s transmission was halted for several hours.
Protesters: Afghan Govt Reluctant to Defend Media
Journalists in Afghanistan on Saturday criticized the Afghan government for its reluctance to protect the journalist community amid the recent spate of targeted killings.
This came hours after an angry mob, including the imam of a mosque, attacked Zohra Radio, a local radio station in the city of Kunduz, damaging equipment and the building.
“In the past, we were afraid of armed opponents, but now we feel fear from our own people,” said Haseeb Hasas, a journalist in the northeastern province of Kunduz.
“The attack that happened to the radio station in Kunduz has gravely concerned us,” said Hedayatullah Ziarmal, the director of Radio Kunduz.
An angry mob joined by the imam of a mosque attacked Zohra Radio, a local radio station in the city of Kunduz, on Friday afternoon, leaving damage to its equipment and building, h