The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has investigated 49 cases of violence, terror and murder against journalists in the country. 

The AGO spokesman Jamshid Rasuli told TOLOnews that the punishments which have been considered for the perpetrators of the cases include from death penalty to imprisonment. 

“If the cases are not probed properly, the perpetrators of crimes against journalists and media will dare to act and make actions that would restrict freedom of expression,” Yusufullah Amiri, a journalist said.

Meanwhile, the institutions supporting media in Afghanistan said that 14 journalists were killed in insurgent incidents this year. 

“Last year we lost 20 journalists and media workers and 60 others were wounded and in total 169 cases of violence were recorded against journalists. This year, as we are now in 10th month, we have lost 14 journalists and media workers,” said Wahida Faizi, member of Journalists’ Safety Committee. 

In the meantime, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO marked the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists profiled 10 journalists including Samim Faramarz, Jamal Khashoggi, James Foley, Daphne Galizia who have lost their lives in the line of duty in recent years.

“If the National Unity Government counts itself as a supporter of media and freedom of expression, it should at least investigate one of two of the cases publicly,” Shafiq Mohammadi, a journalist said.

US ambassador to Kabul John R Bass said US will work with its international partners to decrease violence against journalists in Afghanistan. 

“Journalists have a very dangerous profession. It is too dangerous in some places like Afghanistan, because of the violence from conflict, but we are determined to continue to work with our friends and partners in the international community to reduce the number of cases where journalists are facing violence, facing threats, facing intimidation simply for doing their work,” said Bass.