UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay called for better safety for journalists following the killing of journalist and women’s rights activist Malala Maiwand and her driver Mohammad Tahir in eastern Afghanistan, on Thursday.
“As we observe Human Rights Day (10 December), I condemn the killing of journalist Malala Maiwand and support staffer Mohammad Tahir,” said Azoulay.
“This attack clearly targeted a journalist who defended women’s rights and freedom of expression. Maiwand’s voice needed to be heard and we need better measures to prevent criminals from suppressing the rights she promoted," Azoulay added.
Maiwand, a reporter for radio and television broadcaster Enikas, and Tahir were killed by unidentified gunmen in Jalalabad, capital of eastern Nangarhar province. Maiwand was a women’s rights activist who had spoken out about the challenges facing female journalists in Afghanistan. She was a member of the International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IWART), according to the statement.
Two prominent journalists were killed in Afghanistan last month amid a a slew of targeted killings in urban areas that have created a climate of fear as the government tries to negotiate peace with insurgents.
Besides journalists, human rights workers, moderate religious scholars and civil society activists have also been murdered this year in Afghanistan.
