While it may be unacceptable for an Attorney General to approach TV stations and alter in their productions, one still needs to keep in mind the developing nature of afghanistan. Pragmatically, Afghanistan hasn't developed it's freedom of speech. Many Afghans are too afraid to speak out.
In terms of journalism, i have witnessed the powerful impact of media propaganda and it's effect on nations (including Australia). The media is able to manipulate and shape ideas of the masses by using it's right to free speech. But to what extent is it free speech? Unfortunately, even Australian media laws are still unable to draw a fine law between defamation and free speech. The Australian media, to some extent, has portrayed a negative image of Muslims in Australia creating phobia nationwide.
In essence, although i don't agree Attorney General Sabet is the man for the job, however we do need someone who gives our journalists a twist in the ear every now and then for manipulation. As for Shukria Barukzai, to say the least- she's my most disliked MP. She doesn't maintain her ground and changes her stance on issues too often.
Anyways, back to Attorney General- there's been a hyper reaction here in Kabul. It's all over the news- character assassination! Seriously, GET OVER IT and leave the poor man alone! He's top notch! This is the first step he's taken which is wrong, but there's plenty more that he's done which deserves praise.
As for other happenings, things are pretty calm here. Just been really busy in the past few days with guests.
Row over Afghan TV station raid
Protesters denounced the raid as an attack against press freedom Staff at an Afghan television station in the capital, Kabul, have protested against a raid by armed police who allegedly assaulted workers there.
Dozens of journalists and members of parliament demonstrated outside parliament against the raid. They accused President Hamid Karzai of smothering freedom of speech during Tuesday's raid at Tolo TV.
MP and former journalist Shukria Barakzai accused the authorities of having no respect for the law.'Over-reaction'
"It's a small example for journalists in Afghanistan. We face lots of violence," she told the rally outside parliament.
Staff at Tolo are renowned for their campaigns for social change. Staff at Tolo say that about 50 armed police entered its offices, assaulted staff and arrested three people who were taken to the attorney general's office. He had complained earlier about an item broadcast in one of the station's news programmes which he said misrepresented a speech he made in parliament.
The New York based Committee to Protect Journalists described the raid as an "over-reaction", and an indication that Kabul was moving quickly away from its pledge of press freedom.
Press release from Tolo Tv- recieved in my email inbox:Attorney General orders arrest of Tolo TV staff
Kabul, Afghanistan 17 April 2007 -Tonight at about 7pm Kabul time, more than 50 armed men from the 10th District Police, under direct orders from the Attorney General, Abdul Jabar Sabet, surrounded the offices of Tolo TV in Wazir Akbar Khan in Kabul Afghanistan. The Police physically entered Tolo TV premises and violently attacked staff of Tolo TV, taking three staff members of Tolo TV with them. The Tolo TV staff members, were taken directly to the Attorney General's Office and detained.
Earlier at about 6.20pm tonight, the Attorney General, Abdul Jabar Sabet, had complained of a news clip on the 6pm Tolo TV news, which he claimed was inaccurate or misrepresented the Attorney General's comments at an earlier press conference today. After investigating the complaint, Tolo TV management found the complaint to be invalid. The Tolo TV news clip broadcast was accurate and representative of what the Attorney General had said at the press conference.
At the time that the District 10 Police came to Tolo TV offices, they sought the detention of Hamed Haidary, who was the journalist covering the news clip mentioned above, and the "person responsible" for Tolo TV. The Police did not have any legal documentation. When asked to produce such documentation, the Deputy Commander of District 10 Police, wrote on a piece of paper the following:
To the administration of Tolo TV
In accordance with the order of the Attorney General, the responsible person for Tolo TV, and Hamed Haidary, the reporter, are required to appear at the 10th District Police Office.
Signed on behalf of the Commander of the 10th Police District, Mohammad Qasim Aminzoi
The above document was handed to Tolo TV staff, but was not accepted by legal advisors to Tolo TV as it is not valid in Law. Under the Constitution of Afghanistan, Article 38 states as follows:
Residences shall be immune from trespassing.
No one, including the state, shall have the right to enter a residence or search it without the owners permission or by order of an authoritative court, except in situations and methods delineated by law.In case of an evident crime, the responsible official shall enter or search a residence without prior court order. The aforementioned official, shall, after entrance or completion of search, obtain a court order within the time limit set by law.
No arrest warrants, Court orders, or other legal or written documents were produced by the 10th District Police (other than as noted above).They advised that the Attorney General had verbally ordered them to detain Tolo TV staff. When Tolo TV staff, including Tolo TV legal advisor, Mohammad Abdullah, Tolo TV Administration Manager, Siddiq Ahmadzada and Tolo TV Security Manager, Lal Mohammad, tried to reason with the Police they were physically assaulted and then dragged into Police vehicles.
These three Tolo TV staff members were taken to the Attorney General's office (not the 10th District Police Office), where they were held until public pressure forced the Attorney General to release the Tolo TV staff after about 1 hour. A number of other journalists, including 4 staff members of Associated Press who were covering the incident, were also detained without charge and allegedly assaulted and their footage allegedly confiscated.
It should also be noted that under the Media Laws of Afghanistan, all complaints about the media should, at first instance, be directed towards the Media Investigation Commission which is tasked with investigating such complaints. This Commission is then able to refer the matter to the Attorney General's office if warranted. This procedure was not followed in this instance.
We hereby state as follows:
the actions of the District 10 Police and the Attorney General's office, including the Attorney General, Abdul Jabar Sabet, were a complete violation of the Constitution of Afghanistan
the manner in which Tolo TV were physically abused and detained was completely unacceptable and against the law
the physical transgression into Tolo TV offices is against the Constitution and the laws of Afghanistan
sthe taking of Tolo TV staff to the Attorney General's office was against the law
the direct ordering of District Police by the Attorney General's office is against the law
these actions of the Attorney General's office and the District 10 Police are not only against the rights of media enshrined in the Constitution, but also against the principles of democracy and against the national interest of AfghanistanFurther, we demand as follows:
he immediate suspension from duty of all persons involved in this incident including the Attorney General, the Commander of the 10th District of Police and the Deputy Commander of the 10th District Police
the creation of a commission who will be tasked with investigating this incident, to be comprised of members acceptable to the media
the dismissal of all those found to have had any involvement in this incident which is against the laws of Afghanistan
the prosecution to the full extent of the law of all of those found to have committed any crimeFurther, Tolo TV Management would like to thank all of those people who have indicated their support for Tolo TV, including all other media organisations of Afghanistan and international organisations who have covered this event, human rights organisations, members of Parliament, unions representing journalists, the staff of Tolo TV, Lemar TV and Arman FM, all other organisations who have expressed their public support, and most of all the public of Afghanistan who have been unswerving in their support.
I shall write to Tolo Tv.
Ba omideh deedaar, khuda negahdaar.
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