Afghan journalist conferred free speech award

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Paris-based Reporters Without Borders has conferred for a second time the ‘freedom of speech award’ on an Afghan journalist Lotfullah Najafizada, an official said on Tuesday.

Raza Moini, the head of Reporters Without Borders’ Afghanistan, Iran and Tajikistan desk, said the situation of Afghan journalists was critical as threats to them were on the increase.

Najafizada, news section head at Tolo private TV channel, was decorated with the award at a ceremony held in Paris a day earlier.

Moini said different armed groups such as Taliban, Daesh, powerful individuals and government forces used to target journalists in order to force them into self-censorship.

He said the Afghan media faced many challenges including threats and attacks but journalists continued to brave them.

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