Daesh Says Killed Female Afghan Media Workers
KABUL (Dispatches) – The Daesh terrorist group has claimed responsibility for an attack that killed three female media workers in eastern Afghanistan.
The terrorist group, which has a presence in Afghanistan, said its militants had targeted the three female employees of a television station in the eastern city of Jalalabad on Tuesday evening, according to the SITE Intelligence group.
The women, who worked for local broadcaster Enikas TV, were aged between 18 and 20 and were shot on their way home from work, according to Afghan officials. Their burials took place on Wednesday after prayer ceremonies, according to a provincial council member.
A fourth women wounded in the attack was admitted to hospital in a critical condition, hospitals officials.
"We are alarmed by the killing of Mursal Wahidi, Sadia Sadat, and Shahnaz Roafi, and the repeated attacks on Enikass Radio and TV,” said Enikass director Zalmay Latifi.
He said the three workers dubbed entertainment TV programs and films into local languages.
"Working for a news outlet or broadcaster in Afghanistan carries immense risk, and impunity will only further the cycle of violence and fear,” Latifi added.
Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani condemned the attack, which local police initially blamed on the Taliban, who denied any involvement.
The Committee to Protect Journalists said on Tuesday that Afghan authorities should thoroughly investigate the killings and hold the perpetrators to account.
The shootings followed the murder in December 2020 of a reporter at the broadcaster and her driver. Malalai Maiwand, a journalist with Enikass station, was killed with her driver in the attack by gunmen on their vehicle in Jalalabad.
In recent months, deadly attacks and high-profile assassinations have seen a rise in Afghanistan. The Taliban militant group, which has engaged in peace talks with Kabul, has denied responsibility for the killings, but Afghan and U.S. officials have pinned the blame on the group.
The U.S. overthrew a Taliban regime shortly after the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan. But occupation forces have remained bogged down there ever since and violence continues to take a heavy toll in the country.
Daesh has also established a foothold in eastern and northern Afghanistan.
The terrorist group, which has a presence in Afghanistan, said its militants had targeted the three female employees of a television station in the eastern city of Jalalabad on Tuesday evening, according to the SITE Intelligence group.
The women, who worked for local broadcaster Enikas TV, were aged between 18 and 20 and were shot on their way home from work, according to Afghan officials. Their burials took place on Wednesday after prayer ceremonies, according to a provincial council member.
A fourth women wounded in the attack was admitted to hospital in a critical condition, hospitals officials.
"We are alarmed by the killing of Mursal Wahidi, Sadia Sadat, and Shahnaz Roafi, and the repeated attacks on Enikass Radio and TV,” said Enikass director Zalmay Latifi.
He said the three workers dubbed entertainment TV programs and films into local languages.
"Working for a news outlet or broadcaster in Afghanistan carries immense risk, and impunity will only further the cycle of violence and fear,” Latifi added.
Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani condemned the attack, which local police initially blamed on the Taliban, who denied any involvement.
The Committee to Protect Journalists said on Tuesday that Afghan authorities should thoroughly investigate the killings and hold the perpetrators to account.
The shootings followed the murder in December 2020 of a reporter at the broadcaster and her driver. Malalai Maiwand, a journalist with Enikass station, was killed with her driver in the attack by gunmen on their vehicle in Jalalabad.
In recent months, deadly attacks and high-profile assassinations have seen a rise in Afghanistan. The Taliban militant group, which has engaged in peace talks with Kabul, has denied responsibility for the killings, but Afghan and U.S. officials have pinned the blame on the group.
The U.S. overthrew a Taliban regime shortly after the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan. But occupation forces have remained bogged down there ever since and violence continues to take a heavy toll in the country.
Daesh has also established a foothold in eastern and northern Afghanistan.