UNESCO chief deplores killing of Afghan journalist

The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom today condemned the killing of a reporter from Afghanistan earlier this month in the south of the war-torn nation, calling his death a blow to the freedom of expression.

Jawed Ahmad, also known as Jojo Yazemi, worked for the Canadian media, including CTV News. He was gunned down on 10 March by two men as he was getting out of his car in Kandahar’s city centre.

“The life of a dedicated reporter has been cut short, depriving the whole of Afghan society of a brave promoter of democratic debate and a defender of the basic human right of freedom of expression,” said Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

According to the non-governmental organization Reporters Without Borders, several Afghan journalists said that they suspect the murder may have been ordered by the Taliban.

Mr. Ahmad was detained by the United States army in November 2007 for allegedly having contacts with the Taliban, and was released 11 months later.

Reporters Without Borders said that the journalist had defended his “right” to be in contact with the Taliban, calling it a necessity for his work as a reporter in southern Afghanistan.