AFPC-USA: "Protect Women Afghan Journalists"
Today, the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents in the United States (AFPC-USA | ForeignPressCorrespondents.org) released the following statement on the need to protect women journalists in Afghanistan, following the abrupt overthrowing of the Afghan government:
On Sunday, August 16, 2021, following President Biden’s promise to remove all American troops from Afghanistan ahead of September 11, the Taliban took hold of Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital city. The ousting of the Afghan government occurred at a much faster pace than anticipated, and Americans and Afghans alike were thrust into rushed evacuation.
Without warning, the lives of millions were jeopardized in a matter of days, and for some, in a matter of hours. One group in particular faces potentially more dire consequences than anyone remaining in Afghanistan. Women, and specifically notable and remarkable women Journalists, are one outward-facing group who are not shrouded among the masses. These women, who are forbidden to work under the Taliban’s harsh Sharia law, are among the most vulnerable to violence given their public presence.
The Taliban have vowed to protect women’s rights and grant amnesty to those who worked with the now toppled government backed by the United States, but reports out of Afghanistan, both inside and outside of Kabul, indicate that this is little more than a charm offensive. Journalists are risking retaliation and facing considerable danger in their efforts to capture the stories and images that have shocked the world.
As the modern world moves collectively to protect those who served loyally alongside the American military, we must remember those journalists — particularly the women journalists — who may not have connections outside of Afghanistan and desperately require assistance and protection to reach safety.
Afghan journalists report the news the rest of the world may never know without fearlessness and diligent efforts. We must remain dedicated to the cause of bringing every journalist to safety until we can ensure they are, indeed, safe. We owe it to Afghanistan’s journalists, and we owe it to the world.
