Afghanistan

22 March 2007

US, UK flay deal over Italian journalist's release

The United States, Britain, and the Netherlands have all assailed the deal made with the Taliban by Italy and Afghanistan to secure the release of Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo, according to news agencies. Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo speaks during a news conference at the "La Repubblica" editorial headquarters in Rome March 21, 2007. The United States and Britain criticised...

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15 March 2007

Abducted Italian reporter appeals for freedom on video

Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo abducted by the Taliban in Afghanistan last week has appeared in a video shown on television Wednesday appealing to Premier Romano Prodi to work for his release. TV grab from Euronews shows an image from video footage, received by non govenmental organisation Emergency, of Italian reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo who was abducted 10 days ago by a Taliban...

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12 March 2007

Killing of Afghan civilians: US army defends destruction of footage

The US military has defended the erasing by an American soldier of journalists' footage of the aftermath of a suicide bombing and shooting in Afghanistan last week, the Associated Press (AP) has reported. The military said that publication could have compromised an investigation and led to false public conclusions. An Afghan man cries as he shouts anti-American slogans after a car bomber attacked...

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8 March 2007

AKI reporter relives kidnap nightmare as Italian seized

Karachi, 8 March (AKI) - For Syed Saleem Shahzad, correspondent for Italian news agency Adnkronos International (AKI), the news of the capture of Italian reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo in southern Afghanistan brings back vivid memories. Last November Shahzad along with another Pakistani reporter, Qamar Yousafzai, was seized in the restive Helmand province by Taliban fighters who accused the two...

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7 March 2007

Taliban claims to have "captured" Italian journalist

The Taliban has claimed to have “captured” an Italian journalist and his Afghan translator and driver in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan. Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo, a veteran reporter for the daily La Repubblica based in Afghanistan, has been out of contact with his newspaper since Sunday. The Taliban Tuesday said it had seized a man it alleged was a spy posing as a...

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2 March 2007

Afghan journalist freed after being held for a year on baseless accusation

Reporters Without Borders today hailed the release of radio journalist Abdul Qudoos after nearly a year in detention. He was set free after a court in the eastern province of Parwan decided on 31 January to drop the charges of attempted murder that had been brought against him. “It is deplorable that Qudoos spent 11 months in prison for no reason,” the press freedom organisation said. “He is the...

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23 February 2007

Morality and propaganda put pressure on Afghan media

KABUL (AFP) - Television stations are trying to introduce some kind of modernity into conservative and mostly illiterate Afghanistan but their efforts are being threatened by planned changes to media laws. Parliament, dominated by former mujahedin -- commanders of the jihad or holy war to resist the Soviet invasion -- is due in the coming weeks to amend the media law decreed two years ago by...

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23 February 2007

Afghanistan media environment witnessing winds of change

Despite continued difficulties with security and reconstruction, television is gaining ground in Afghanistan as the most important news and entertainment source in urban areas, particularly the capital, Kabul, a recent survey has found. Tolo TV newsdesk at work. The capital’s viewers can choose from six privately run channels. InterMedia found that Tolo TV, funded by an Australian based Afghan...

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22 February 2007

Al Jazeera journalists released in Afghanistan

KABUL: One British and three Afghan journalists working for Al Jazeera television were captured by Taliban militants in southern Afghanistan, held overnight and released yesterday, one of the team said. The four men were captured in the volatile province of Helmand, Al Jazeera producer Qais Azimy said. "We were captured by Taliban. They behaved well with us," he said by telephone. "Today before...

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22 February 2007

IFJ concerned by affronts on press freedom in Pakistan and Afghanistan

(IFJ/IFEX) - The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has expressed concern over government decisions in both Pakistan and Afghanistan which will potentially jeopardise advancements made towards free and democratic media in these countries. Afghan media laws are set to be reviewed over the next month, which, according to reported statements by parliamentarians, will result in firmer...

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