A group of artists in Kabul painted a mural of Yama Siawash, former TOLOnews anchor who died in an attack on Nov. 7, and said that by this move, they are trying to support those who seek justice for the people.
The artists said that the attack on Yama Siawash is attack on the freedom of expression and that it should be investigated thoroughly.
The deadline given by Yama Siawash’s family ended on Thursday. There has been less progress in the investigation into the incident that killed three employees of the Central Bank, including Siawash.
“The government has the responsibility to find the perpetrators and stay responsive to the people,” said Farhad Ahmad, member of Hunar Sarai Milad Mohammadi, an artists’ group in Kabul.
“I see a grim picture for the future of media outlets in Afghanistan and those who are working in this field. We lost Yama and the next day we might lose another person; therefore, the government should take measures as soon as possible,” said Faisal, a Kabul resident.
Meanwhile, a group of poets remembered Yama Siawash at a poetry session in Kabul and called the attack on him a crime against humanity.
“Martyrs’ families are mocked in some way and they are somehow threatened not to follow such incidents,” said Hasib Mutarif, a writer.
This comes as Deborah Lyons, UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan on Thursday said that Afghanistan remains one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists.
“Six have lost their lives, this year alone – six journalists – with scant accountability for perpetrators. Eleven human rights defenders have also lost their lives, and many more have been injured or continue to be threatened,” she said. “Such attacks are completely unjustifiable. They risk chilling the public discourse, just when dialogue is most needed. So, I call upon the Government to take effective measures to protect the media, and to investigate and prosecute violent crimes against journalists.”
She said that the Taliban, too, must refrain from attacking civilian targets and that they must recognize the critical role that the media and civil society fulfils in a modern-day Afghanistan, as a vital member of global community.