Reporters Without Borders welcomes the reappearance of the independent Kabul Weekly newspaper in news stands after an absence of several months due to financial difficulties. The press freedom organisation provided financial support to the weekly, which is edited by Faheem Dashty.
"Press freedom in Afghanistan depends on the vitality of its independent newspapers, radio and TV stations and news agencies," Reporters Without Borders said. "We wish every success to the new team at Kabul Weekly."
The first number of Kabul Weekly’s new version was brought out on 16 May. Published in three languages (English, Dari and Pashto), with 20 pages (of which two in colour) and a print run of 5,000, the newspaper is already attracting readers and advertisers.
Thanks to help from the Open Society Institute, UNESCO and Reporters Without Borders, Kabul Weekly was able to buy new equipment and hire more staff. In his first editorial, Dashty writes: "Now once again, Kabul Weekly and its dedicated staff are determined to take up this responsibility, despite all the ups and downs, and to stay committed to one only: the people."
Dashty said he received offers of help from several leading politicians, including people close to President Hamid Karzai, but turned them down in order to guarantee the newspaper’s independence.
Reporters Without Borders is posting two front pages of Kabul Weekly on its site in PDF format.
