UNESCO chief deplores killing of television journalist in Afghanistan
| Publisher | UN News Service |
| Publication Date | 8 November 2016 |
| Cite as | UN News Service, UNESCO chief deplores killing of television journalist in Afghanistan, 8 November 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5824798540d.html [accessed 28 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
8 November 2016 - The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom today spoke out against the murder of a broadcast journalist in Afghanistan's Helmand province on 4 November.
“I deplore the killing of Nematullah Zahir,” said Irina Bokova, the Director-General of UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in a statement. “It is essential that the authorities as well as media organizations in Afghanistan do all they can to improve the safety of media workers.”
Nematullah Zahir, a reporter for Ariana TV, was killed by a bomb near the city of Lashkar Gah while driving on a reporting assignment.
She said that as part of the drive to save lives and enable the media to continue informing the public, UNESCO and its partners have published a guidebook for journalists in high-risk environments, which she called on all concerned to heed.
The Director-General of UNESCO issues statements on the killing of media workers in line with resolution 29 adopted by UNESCO Member States in 1997, entitled “Condemnation of Violence against Journalists.”
