Afghanistan's Journalists Ask For A Return To Law

Managers and journalists at Kabul’s Tolo TV, the target of last week’s violent police raid ordered by Attorney General Abdul Jabar Sabet, are proceeding with their legal action before Afghanistan’s Supreme Court, seeking Sabet’s removal from office.

As well, Tolo is turning down a request by the government’s Media Commission to apologize to Sabet, who launched the raid on allegations of unfair coverage – allegations that appear groundless based on transcripts of the Tolo news program at issue.

Meantime, a broad coalition of Afghan journalists, legislators and human rights groups have harshly criticized Sabet’s continuing crackdown, and are calling for a return to law in the Karzai administration’s dealings with the media. A joint declaration states that “…the rule of law has been over crossed by lawlessness and mayhem.”

The declaration reveals that one of Afghanistan’s leading journalists, Amir Shah, of Associated Press, was among the reporters detained and beaten on Sabet’s orders last week.

Ask any seasoned journalist, of any nationality, who has covered Afghanistan for any period of time. They’ll tell you of Amir Shah’s courage. Of his willingness to help foreign reporters get the Afghan story straight. Of his faithful, unfailing service to his country and the cause of free journalism – even through the dark years of Taliban repression.

He is a humble man. But readers, rely on these words.

Afghans of Amir Shah’s stature are a litmus test of the viability of the government of the day. When Amir Shah is held down and beaten by policemen, President Karzai, too, along with his foreign sponsors, must accept ultimate responsibility – and share the blame for what is happening now, namely the further collapse of public confidence in Karzai’s teetering administration.