“I run off from home in a rented-car with my step son, it was around 12:30 pm, he brought me (to Kabul), my step son had killed another wife of my husband. We are at five (pm) in Kabul. My dad and mom were expecting me in Kampani (district). My husband committed the tyranny of nine worlds on me, when I was ill (or giving birth) he even didn’t get me a tablet. he made me run away” Those are Shamilla’s words. Shamilla is 19, she is imprisoned in Kabul jail with her a year and half year old child. According to shamilla, under Taliban when she was only 12, in exchange for his brother life she was married to a 42 years old Taliban. She continues “my husband is influential, he is rich, I have nothing other than God. He took our dossier down to Kandahar (from Kabul), the verdict was in his favor, he informed Kabul and they put me in jail, while he is enjoying his freedom. After he relocated the dossier to kandahar, where he has connections, I refused to go, then they put me in prison”
Shamilla’s family are from Kabul, when Taliban captured Kabul her brother was took in custody for having weapons, the family bought some guns for Taliban in exchange for the release of the brother, but Taliban wanted Shamilla “my husband was a Taliban, their check point was across our house, he was eyeing me when I was leaving the house and eventually he jailed my brother. My brother still suffers feet injuries. Taliban accused him of being a commander. When the elders delivered the rifles, they asked for me.
My husband took me to Kandahar where I lived for seven years, I haven’t been to Kabul in five years, my weak dad came to kandahar with my aunt and humbly demanded my husband to allow me to go to Kabul for ten days, but he didn’t he told them: ‘imagine Shamilla is dead’. ”
Prosecutors and the relevant courts are not keen to reveal much of her story. Disregarding the accuracy of all what Shamilla says, the question is whether Shamilla’s relationship with her husband and the response of justice is fair. Since Shamilla is living in kandahar her case should be handled in Kandahar. Imprisoning Shamilla in Kabul is unlawful, the prosecutor office believes if shamilla goes to kandahar her life would be in danger and her husband might kill her; in which case the husband should be serving in jail instead of Shamilla, on charges of intention to murder and wives abuse. Shamila said “I can’t tell you what my husband has done to me. He did lots of bad things, which made me run away and I asked for justice, I asked for divorce, and it’s been eight months since my petition.
My husband took the dossier to Kandahar and I was told to go for adjudge, but I won’t go there, even if they kill me here”
Shamilla was twelve when she was married that is four years under the age of marriage fixed in constitution. Shamilla marries a 42 year old man who is from Kandahar under Taliban, who doesn’t have family connection with Shamilla, obviously, in such kind of marriage some force and oblige has been used. Shamilla was considered a child according the constitution; shamilla is 19 and as an adult she has the right to change what happened to her as a child.
Shamilla says a bit more about her husband “my husband had another wife, one year before me he killed her, he did horrible things to her and she suffered a heart attack. He is over 50, and I have two kids, he has 15 kids from other wives, 11 of which have died. I didn’t live with his other wives. Sometimes he was feeding me. Often he was telling me stories of being with other women”
Supreme Court prejudged another similar dossier sometime ago, a 16 year old woman was married at the age of 13 and she wanted divorce, but supreme court denied her request and adjured she should return to her husband.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
شمیلا در زندان توطئه ه
"از خانه فرار كردم، ساعت دوازده ونيم بجه روز بود، بچه اندرم كورولا را كرايه كرد، و مرا (به کابل) آورد ، بچه اندرم يك انباغم را كشته بود.
ساعت 5 بجه (عصر) به كابل رسيديم. باز پدرم همراه مادرم به (ساحه) كمپني آمد.
شوهرم ظلم و ظالمي 9 دنيا را سرم مي كرد، وقتي ناجور مي بودم حتي يك تابلت هم به مه نمي آورد. من مجبور شدم كه فرار كنم"
این حرف های شمیلا است. شمیلا 19 سال دارد، اکنون در نظارتخانه ی ولایت کابل با کودک یک ونیم ساله اش زندانی است. به گفته ی شمیلا، در زمان طالبان، که وی 12 سال داشت، در برابر رهایی برادرش از قید طالبان، تبادله شده بود. یک سرباز 42 ساله ی طالب، شمیلا را در قید نکاح خویش آورد. شمیلا می افزاید: "شوهرم زورمند است، و پيسه دارد، ما به غير خدا ديگر كس را نداريم. دوسيه را قندهار برد، فیصله به نفع او شد، اطلاع داد (به کابل) و مرا هم اينجا زندانی كردند و خودش آزاد مي گردد.
دوسيه را كه (شوهرم) قندهار برد، (در کندهار) واسطه دارد و گفتند كه بايد قندهار بروم، و وقتي كه من نرفتم مرا اينجا بندي كردند."
خانواده، شمیلا اهل کابل میباشند، زمانی که طالبان کابل را اشغال نمودند، برادر شمیلا به جرم داشتن سلاح توسط طالبان زندانی گردید، خانواده شمیلا به خاطر رهایی وی، چند میل سلاح خریداری کردند تا در مقابل فرزند خویش تبادله نماید، اما طالبان از سلاح صرف نظر نموده و خواهان شمیلا شدند.
"شوهرم طالب بود، و روبروي خانه ي ما پوسته داشت، وقتي من بيرون مي رفتم، او به من نگاه ها می انداخت، و بلاخره برادر مرا بندي كرد، وفعلا برادرم پاهايش زخمي است، ادعا کردند که وی قوماندان است. در مقابل رهایی برادرم خواهان سلاح و تفنگچه شدند، وقتي ريش سفيدان را جمع كرديم تا سلاح بديم، گفتند كه ما سلاح كار نداريم ما دختر را كار داريم.
در قندهار 7 سال را همرايش تير كرديم ، 5 سال مرا كابل نياورد، پدرم آمد - ريش سفيد - به پاهايش افتاد وگفت: در كابل خبرآمده بود كه شميلا مرده.
پدرم همراي شوهر خاله ام به پاهايش افتاد، عذر كرد كه دخترم را فقط براي ده روز اجازه بده، به كابل بيايد ولي او نماند، گفت اين طور فكر كنيد كه شميلا مرده است."
سارنوالی و محاکم مربوطه در مورد دوسیه ی شمیلا، از دادن پاسخ ابا ورزیدند،. ولی بدون در نظر داشت صحت ادعا وی، سوال پیدا میشود که آیا این رابطه ی شمیلا با شوهرش و برخورد قضا با شمیلا ،عادلانه است.
از انجایی که محل اصلی سکونت شمیلا کندهار است، پرونده وی باید به محکمه مربوطه کندهار محول گردد. حبس شمیلا در کابل و تعقیب پرونده وی در کابل کاریست غیر قانونی، سارنوالی به این باور است، اگر شمیلا به کندهار برود، حیات اش در خطر خواهد بود و شوهرش ممکن اقدام به قتل وی کند، که در این صورت شوهر شمیلا، به جرم قصد قتل و تهذیب شمیلا، باید به زندان افگنده شود. شمیلا میگوید: "بسيار به من ظلم مي كرد، من حتی آنها را به شما گفته نمي توانم، بسيار كارهاي خراب مي كرد، كه من هم گريختم، همين جا سرش عريضه كردم، و خواهان طلاق شدم، و فعلا 8 ماه مي شود كه همراي او دعوا داريم،
خودش آمد و دوسيه را با خودش قندهار برد و سرم چپه كرد، با دادن رشوه، حالا اينجا بندي ام کرد. او دوسيه را قندهار برده، به من ميگوید؛ کندهاربرو دعوا كن، ولي من انجا رفته نمي توانم، من همين جا به مرگ خود راضي هستم، ولي حاضر نيستم كه به کندهار بروم چرا كه آنجا من در خطر هستم، و قوماندانها مرا مي زنند."
شمیلا در زمان عروسی 12 سال داشت که این خود چهار سال، پائین تر از سن ازدواج است که قانون اساسی تعیین نموده است. عروسی شمیلا با مرد 42 ساله صورت میگیرد، که در زمان طالبان اهل کندهار میباشد، و دوستی یا شناخت خانواده گی با شمیلا ندارد.اشکاراست که در اینجا از زور و اجبار کار گرفته شده است. و حتی اگر نشده باشد، شمیلا به اساس قانون اساسی کودک پنداشته میشود و حالا که 19 ساله است منحیث شخص بالغ حق دارد که از تصمیم کودکانه خود منصرف شده و با شوهر خود زنده گی نکند. اما قضا به عوض پاسخ به خواست مشروع شمیلا و ترتیب طلاق وی، شمیلا را به زندان می اندازد.
پرونده مشابه یی چند قبل مورد فیصل ستره محکمه قرار گرفت، دختر 19 ساله ی در 13 ساله گی به ازدواج داده شده بود، میخواست از شوهر طلاق بگیرد، اما ستره محکمه درخواست اش را رد نمود، وی را در قید شوهر قرار داد.
شمیلا در مورد شوهرش میگوید: "شوهرم یک خانم (دیگر) داشت، يك سال پيش از من اورا كشته بود. كارهاي بد همرايش مي كرد و فشارش بلند رفت. فعلا تريا ك كار مي كند، 50 يا 55 ساله باشد، خودم دو اولاد دارم و از انباغم 11 تا (طفل اش) مرده و 4 تايش زنده است .
من همراه زن ديگر اش زندگي نكردم، او يك سال قبل از من مرده بود. من را كه دلش مي شد نان و چاي مي داد وخودش مي رفت در هوتل (رستورانت) نان مي خورد، باز مي آمد و قصه مي كرد، كریم و پودرها را در موتر مي ماند، و به من مي گفت، شميلا بيا ببين كه من زنها را امروز برده بودم . همراه من همه بي انصافي (ها) را مي كرد كه من گفته نمي توانم"
ساعت 5 بجه (عصر) به كابل رسيديم. باز پدرم همراه مادرم به (ساحه) كمپني آمد.
شوهرم ظلم و ظالمي 9 دنيا را سرم مي كرد، وقتي ناجور مي بودم حتي يك تابلت هم به مه نمي آورد. من مجبور شدم كه فرار كنم"
این حرف های شمیلا است. شمیلا 19 سال دارد، اکنون در نظارتخانه ی ولایت کابل با کودک یک ونیم ساله اش زندانی است. به گفته ی شمیلا، در زمان طالبان، که وی 12 سال داشت، در برابر رهایی برادرش از قید طالبان، تبادله شده بود. یک سرباز 42 ساله ی طالب، شمیلا را در قید نکاح خویش آورد. شمیلا می افزاید: "شوهرم زورمند است، و پيسه دارد، ما به غير خدا ديگر كس را نداريم. دوسيه را قندهار برد، فیصله به نفع او شد، اطلاع داد (به کابل) و مرا هم اينجا زندانی كردند و خودش آزاد مي گردد.
دوسيه را كه (شوهرم) قندهار برد، (در کندهار) واسطه دارد و گفتند كه بايد قندهار بروم، و وقتي كه من نرفتم مرا اينجا بندي كردند."
خانواده، شمیلا اهل کابل میباشند، زمانی که طالبان کابل را اشغال نمودند، برادر شمیلا به جرم داشتن سلاح توسط طالبان زندانی گردید، خانواده شمیلا به خاطر رهایی وی، چند میل سلاح خریداری کردند تا در مقابل فرزند خویش تبادله نماید، اما طالبان از سلاح صرف نظر نموده و خواهان شمیلا شدند.
"شوهرم طالب بود، و روبروي خانه ي ما پوسته داشت، وقتي من بيرون مي رفتم، او به من نگاه ها می انداخت، و بلاخره برادر مرا بندي كرد، وفعلا برادرم پاهايش زخمي است، ادعا کردند که وی قوماندان است. در مقابل رهایی برادرم خواهان سلاح و تفنگچه شدند، وقتي ريش سفيدان را جمع كرديم تا سلاح بديم، گفتند كه ما سلاح كار نداريم ما دختر را كار داريم.
در قندهار 7 سال را همرايش تير كرديم ، 5 سال مرا كابل نياورد، پدرم آمد - ريش سفيد - به پاهايش افتاد وگفت: در كابل خبرآمده بود كه شميلا مرده.
پدرم همراي شوهر خاله ام به پاهايش افتاد، عذر كرد كه دخترم را فقط براي ده روز اجازه بده، به كابل بيايد ولي او نماند، گفت اين طور فكر كنيد كه شميلا مرده است."
سارنوالی و محاکم مربوطه در مورد دوسیه ی شمیلا، از دادن پاسخ ابا ورزیدند،. ولی بدون در نظر داشت صحت ادعا وی، سوال پیدا میشود که آیا این رابطه ی شمیلا با شوهرش و برخورد قضا با شمیلا ،عادلانه است.
از انجایی که محل اصلی سکونت شمیلا کندهار است، پرونده وی باید به محکمه مربوطه کندهار محول گردد. حبس شمیلا در کابل و تعقیب پرونده وی در کابل کاریست غیر قانونی، سارنوالی به این باور است، اگر شمیلا به کندهار برود، حیات اش در خطر خواهد بود و شوهرش ممکن اقدام به قتل وی کند، که در این صورت شوهر شمیلا، به جرم قصد قتل و تهذیب شمیلا، باید به زندان افگنده شود. شمیلا میگوید: "بسيار به من ظلم مي كرد، من حتی آنها را به شما گفته نمي توانم، بسيار كارهاي خراب مي كرد، كه من هم گريختم، همين جا سرش عريضه كردم، و خواهان طلاق شدم، و فعلا 8 ماه مي شود كه همراي او دعوا داريم،
خودش آمد و دوسيه را با خودش قندهار برد و سرم چپه كرد، با دادن رشوه، حالا اينجا بندي ام کرد. او دوسيه را قندهار برده، به من ميگوید؛ کندهاربرو دعوا كن، ولي من انجا رفته نمي توانم، من همين جا به مرگ خود راضي هستم، ولي حاضر نيستم كه به کندهار بروم چرا كه آنجا من در خطر هستم، و قوماندانها مرا مي زنند."
شمیلا در زمان عروسی 12 سال داشت که این خود چهار سال، پائین تر از سن ازدواج است که قانون اساسی تعیین نموده است. عروسی شمیلا با مرد 42 ساله صورت میگیرد، که در زمان طالبان اهل کندهار میباشد، و دوستی یا شناخت خانواده گی با شمیلا ندارد.اشکاراست که در اینجا از زور و اجبار کار گرفته شده است. و حتی اگر نشده باشد، شمیلا به اساس قانون اساسی کودک پنداشته میشود و حالا که 19 ساله است منحیث شخص بالغ حق دارد که از تصمیم کودکانه خود منصرف شده و با شوهر خود زنده گی نکند. اما قضا به عوض پاسخ به خواست مشروع شمیلا و ترتیب طلاق وی، شمیلا را به زندان می اندازد.
پرونده مشابه یی چند قبل مورد فیصل ستره محکمه قرار گرفت، دختر 19 ساله ی در 13 ساله گی به ازدواج داده شده بود، میخواست از شوهر طلاق بگیرد، اما ستره محکمه درخواست اش را رد نمود، وی را در قید شوهر قرار داد.
شمیلا در مورد شوهرش میگوید: "شوهرم یک خانم (دیگر) داشت، يك سال پيش از من اورا كشته بود. كارهاي بد همرايش مي كرد و فشارش بلند رفت. فعلا تريا ك كار مي كند، 50 يا 55 ساله باشد، خودم دو اولاد دارم و از انباغم 11 تا (طفل اش) مرده و 4 تايش زنده است .
من همراه زن ديگر اش زندگي نكردم، او يك سال قبل از من مرده بود. من را كه دلش مي شد نان و چاي مي داد وخودش مي رفت در هوتل (رستورانت) نان مي خورد، باز مي آمد و قصه مي كرد، كریم و پودرها را در موتر مي ماند، و به من مي گفت، شميلا بيا ببين كه من زنها را امروز برده بودم . همراه من همه بي انصافي (ها) را مي كرد كه من گفته نمي توانم"
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Free media on the verge of a larger pitfall
Afghan conflict, like any other conflict offers chances for the media to grow and improve as well as restrictions and dangers. Because of the nature of Afghan crisis people need to know both the good news and the bad news, media disseminate information on reconstruction and development as well as on how the insurgency expands. But Afghan media is not alone, Foreign media has a great interest because they either have troops here or ideological allies. The war on terror is a global phenomenon, but it has it’s critics too, quite some resources has been allocated by foreign media for the coverage of what is happening here. Westerners and NATO came here to defeat Taliban and extremism, clearly they are failing, people back home want to know what is going to happen to their troops in the face of a brutal war and what is going to happen at home as consequences. Afghan journalists are also a victim of the conflict. Afghan reporters has been detained and abused by Afghan Armed Forces, international troops and Taliban. Tawab Niazi is in government detention for maintaining contact with Taliban, without proofs of the nature of contacts. Journalists do get in touch with Taliban for collecting information. Duilio Giammaria, a reporter for Italian TV said “I have learned that journalists in Kabul have been threatened for having contacts with Taliban, we should stand for the freedom of contacts with anyone. Speaking with Taliban doesn’t mean you take sides. We should ask for the right to perform our work freely” Ajmal Naqshbandi is in Taliban custody for reporting in their area of control with an Italian journalist, while Taliban set the Italian free. International forces confiscated reporters’ equipment and barred them from gathering information after a shooting spree where NATO troops killed 16 and wounded 32 civilians last month.
Censorship exists in three forms, direct, indirect and self-censorship. Discussion around any Islamic concept is taboo and it’s directly censored by the government. TV stations are monitored by ministry of information and culture, not to broadcast scenes of Bollywood and western dances with women skin. Afghan TV was penalized by ministry of information and culture for broadcasting bad Bollywood dances. In a music and entertainment dominated media environment, all TV stations are dominated by such dances curtaining it reflects the identity of a confused and scared society. Ismael Khan, minister of water and energy, stated in a gathering in Hirat city, his home town last week “Afghan government is not implementing Islamic rules, even though it is legally bound to do so. Afghan television stations showing programmes of dancing women is a sign of government not implementing Islamic rules” Music content is not something that the government should regulate; it’s a matter of taste and decency and it’s usually covered by TV station editorial policy.
Izatullah wasifi head of counter corruption in a public hearing of his work criticized the media and said “unfortunately, some of our journalists are the source corruption, I don’t say they should be imprisoned, I say we should hang them”
When posed to an unwanted question authorities instead of not denying to comment they threaten journalists. Zahir Azimi, spokesperson for ministry of defense had an interview with a colleague of mine, when asked an unwanted question he had his bodyguards throw out the journalist. Questions about corruption, nepotism, strategies and plans are not welcomed by authorities. It seems these issues are going to remain untouched for some while. Jabar Sabit, chief prosecutor, in a conference summoned everybody in the room to laugh at a colleague of mine for a question involving him in nepotism.
Creating media outlet is easy, establishing a radio station which is the most common medium in Afghanistan, is very easy today. Technology allows us to broadcast from our living room using a PC and a transmitter and it’s going to become even easier, but important is the content. Producing good content is not easy; competing with quality content of other stations is even more difficult. Content is the central issue in building Trust Bridge between audience and outlet. The last five years experience shows, media outlet, resources and technology influences little the content. RTA has received millions of dollars from EU, Japan, Germany and other donors, broadcasting with a staff of 1800. content still remains poor, 19:00 news service, the main news bulletin, is interrupted with what is perceived as breaking news but the event took place before 09:00 in the morning and people has already found out about it through foreign media. If Afghan media is not writing on the situation, then audience has to get that same information from foreign media. Although Afghanistan has 400 of publications hundreds of TV and radio stations but foreign media remain number one source when it comes to current affairs and analysis. Afghan media is still a medium of entertainment, predominantly radio stations at local and national level play music and entertainment. TV, the newest growing medium, has already started to be a rebroadcast machine of Indian dramas, most of the dramas take place inside one house with very little connection of any sort of reality. Too much entertainment on broadcast media is why people feel detached. Inclusive doesn’t mean only local content but also accuracy. The reason an Afghan still tunes into BBC Farsi is because we don’t double check our sources.
The government has well realized the fact that Afghan media is populist and don’t pay enough attention to accuracy. Inaccurate information harms the government and media. The central reason for government crack down on free media is not the quality of media but the principle disagreement of some hardliners in the regime, Karzai and NATO turn a blind eye on it because they want media nose out of security, corruption, secret deals and counter drug strategies.
Afghan parliament has a very similar view of the media to that of the state, views has been brought even closer when Karzai appointed Ab. Karim Khoram as minister of information and culture. Khoram has sacked the reformist head of RTA and in a parliamentary hearing he suggested journalists should wear a special uniform. In most democratic societies the parliament is more supportive of media and state has just to accept free media – in most cases. Parliament is pressuring state radio and TV to give extensive coverage of the parliament. RTA parliamentary coverage is not according to journalistic standards but the way parliament wants it. MPs from religious and cultural committee of the parliament whom I met are mad at media because they are not getting enough coverage. “When we (members of religious and cultural committee) were meeting with the minister of higher education, we didn’t have TV camera to report. We were discussing issues of public interest, state radio and TV doesn’t know what is to public interest. We need to bring state radio and TV under control” said the deputy for religious and cultural committee of the parliament.
Even if foreign media is based on accuracy, they serve a foreign agenda and they are bias. Through the wars we have witnessed how foreign media has conducted a psychological warfare. Heavy investment has been made in foreign media after 9/11 to deliver “information” for Afghans. i popped the question to some people in Kabul, Abdul Hakim a 45 years old, who has been doing business in Iran said “for five years I was listening to BBC and RFE, everyday they were reporting on changes and improvement, I was convinced it’s the time to return, but now I have returned to my village, nothing has changed”
Professional and plural media is an insurance for the government, a trustworthy outlet could be handy for the government in crises, a situation where people need some advice and information. Foreign media wouldn’t describe a government perspective. Foreign media has a foreign way of looking into things.
We have let the initiative slip into the hands of foreign media. Afghan media is following the trends of global gossip village, we are translating foreign reports. “Poetry, carpet weaving and masonry is among our professions but journalism is not, we have learned it from westerners, we have to become professional through learning from their experience. Content selection of journalism then could be our choice” said Baqir Moheen a BBC journalist. A responsible media is painting social problems along with potential solutions, it’s possible in Afghanistan, the country has a strong political culture, it’s oral but it’s pretty strong. For instance if we compare the audience of an Afghan radio station with the readers of a popular western newspaper, people in the west don’t have to think about a lot of the issues but they do in Afghanistan.
The tribal nature of Afghan society is prohibiting to forge a nation. Loyalty and values are divided along tribal lines; Afghanhood is a challenge to promote. Ahmad Shah Massood is constitutionally national hero for some but a war criminal for the others. Zahir shah is constitutionally father of nation for some but an old dictator for others. Reporting on Massood and Zahir Shah is always going to be unacceptable for some no matter how unbiased the report is. National media ought to broadcast for a nation, media creates a trust link with the nation. Without this link media will remain vulnerable.
An Afghan joke goes “two Afghans have three views” media is addressing an audience with various values and standards. Human rights and modern concepts of state and nation is a hard sell for an audience of tribal society who is committed to thousand year old tradition. Wars and betrayal of interventionists made people so cynical that they don’t believe in anything anymore. A Pashto proverb, commonly used in political context, goes “if you fool me once you shall be damned if you fool me twice I shall be damned”.
Censorship exists in three forms, direct, indirect and self-censorship. Discussion around any Islamic concept is taboo and it’s directly censored by the government. TV stations are monitored by ministry of information and culture, not to broadcast scenes of Bollywood and western dances with women skin. Afghan TV was penalized by ministry of information and culture for broadcasting bad Bollywood dances. In a music and entertainment dominated media environment, all TV stations are dominated by such dances curtaining it reflects the identity of a confused and scared society. Ismael Khan, minister of water and energy, stated in a gathering in Hirat city, his home town last week “Afghan government is not implementing Islamic rules, even though it is legally bound to do so. Afghan television stations showing programmes of dancing women is a sign of government not implementing Islamic rules” Music content is not something that the government should regulate; it’s a matter of taste and decency and it’s usually covered by TV station editorial policy.
Izatullah wasifi head of counter corruption in a public hearing of his work criticized the media and said “unfortunately, some of our journalists are the source corruption, I don’t say they should be imprisoned, I say we should hang them”
When posed to an unwanted question authorities instead of not denying to comment they threaten journalists. Zahir Azimi, spokesperson for ministry of defense had an interview with a colleague of mine, when asked an unwanted question he had his bodyguards throw out the journalist. Questions about corruption, nepotism, strategies and plans are not welcomed by authorities. It seems these issues are going to remain untouched for some while. Jabar Sabit, chief prosecutor, in a conference summoned everybody in the room to laugh at a colleague of mine for a question involving him in nepotism.
Creating media outlet is easy, establishing a radio station which is the most common medium in Afghanistan, is very easy today. Technology allows us to broadcast from our living room using a PC and a transmitter and it’s going to become even easier, but important is the content. Producing good content is not easy; competing with quality content of other stations is even more difficult. Content is the central issue in building Trust Bridge between audience and outlet. The last five years experience shows, media outlet, resources and technology influences little the content. RTA has received millions of dollars from EU, Japan, Germany and other donors, broadcasting with a staff of 1800. content still remains poor, 19:00 news service, the main news bulletin, is interrupted with what is perceived as breaking news but the event took place before 09:00 in the morning and people has already found out about it through foreign media. If Afghan media is not writing on the situation, then audience has to get that same information from foreign media. Although Afghanistan has 400 of publications hundreds of TV and radio stations but foreign media remain number one source when it comes to current affairs and analysis. Afghan media is still a medium of entertainment, predominantly radio stations at local and national level play music and entertainment. TV, the newest growing medium, has already started to be a rebroadcast machine of Indian dramas, most of the dramas take place inside one house with very little connection of any sort of reality. Too much entertainment on broadcast media is why people feel detached. Inclusive doesn’t mean only local content but also accuracy. The reason an Afghan still tunes into BBC Farsi is because we don’t double check our sources.
The government has well realized the fact that Afghan media is populist and don’t pay enough attention to accuracy. Inaccurate information harms the government and media. The central reason for government crack down on free media is not the quality of media but the principle disagreement of some hardliners in the regime, Karzai and NATO turn a blind eye on it because they want media nose out of security, corruption, secret deals and counter drug strategies.
Afghan parliament has a very similar view of the media to that of the state, views has been brought even closer when Karzai appointed Ab. Karim Khoram as minister of information and culture. Khoram has sacked the reformist head of RTA and in a parliamentary hearing he suggested journalists should wear a special uniform. In most democratic societies the parliament is more supportive of media and state has just to accept free media – in most cases. Parliament is pressuring state radio and TV to give extensive coverage of the parliament. RTA parliamentary coverage is not according to journalistic standards but the way parliament wants it. MPs from religious and cultural committee of the parliament whom I met are mad at media because they are not getting enough coverage. “When we (members of religious and cultural committee) were meeting with the minister of higher education, we didn’t have TV camera to report. We were discussing issues of public interest, state radio and TV doesn’t know what is to public interest. We need to bring state radio and TV under control” said the deputy for religious and cultural committee of the parliament.
Even if foreign media is based on accuracy, they serve a foreign agenda and they are bias. Through the wars we have witnessed how foreign media has conducted a psychological warfare. Heavy investment has been made in foreign media after 9/11 to deliver “information” for Afghans. i popped the question to some people in Kabul, Abdul Hakim a 45 years old, who has been doing business in Iran said “for five years I was listening to BBC and RFE, everyday they were reporting on changes and improvement, I was convinced it’s the time to return, but now I have returned to my village, nothing has changed”
Professional and plural media is an insurance for the government, a trustworthy outlet could be handy for the government in crises, a situation where people need some advice and information. Foreign media wouldn’t describe a government perspective. Foreign media has a foreign way of looking into things.
We have let the initiative slip into the hands of foreign media. Afghan media is following the trends of global gossip village, we are translating foreign reports. “Poetry, carpet weaving and masonry is among our professions but journalism is not, we have learned it from westerners, we have to become professional through learning from their experience. Content selection of journalism then could be our choice” said Baqir Moheen a BBC journalist. A responsible media is painting social problems along with potential solutions, it’s possible in Afghanistan, the country has a strong political culture, it’s oral but it’s pretty strong. For instance if we compare the audience of an Afghan radio station with the readers of a popular western newspaper, people in the west don’t have to think about a lot of the issues but they do in Afghanistan.
The tribal nature of Afghan society is prohibiting to forge a nation. Loyalty and values are divided along tribal lines; Afghanhood is a challenge to promote. Ahmad Shah Massood is constitutionally national hero for some but a war criminal for the others. Zahir shah is constitutionally father of nation for some but an old dictator for others. Reporting on Massood and Zahir Shah is always going to be unacceptable for some no matter how unbiased the report is. National media ought to broadcast for a nation, media creates a trust link with the nation. Without this link media will remain vulnerable.
An Afghan joke goes “two Afghans have three views” media is addressing an audience with various values and standards. Human rights and modern concepts of state and nation is a hard sell for an audience of tribal society who is committed to thousand year old tradition. Wars and betrayal of interventionists made people so cynical that they don’t believe in anything anymore. A Pashto proverb, commonly used in political context, goes “if you fool me once you shall be damned if you fool me twice I shall be damned”.
Ajmal: a radical new bias treatment
Ajmal Naqshbandi and Daniel Mastrogiacomo, an Italian citizen, were reporting in Helmand province when they were detained by Taliban. Afghan government released five Talib prisoners for Daniel ransom, but Ajmal was forgotten in Taliban graze. Inspired by Italian civil society and efforts of positions and opposition in light of their fruitful efforts for release of their compatriot; we are setting up a rally-tent next to the national assembly building on Wednesday March 28, the aim of the rally and tent-discussion is to attract support for release of Ajmal Naqshbandi. Journalists tent will remain in front of the parliament until Ajmal is released.
The concept behind choosing national assembly for the rally is to gather support of MPs to demand from the government to do more for Ajmal release, in the hope that we could avoid any hazard to Ajmal. In the face of Ajmal Naqshbandi not returning safely to his family, Afghan government would be facing a major political mistake. Public reluctance has expanded largely, Afghans are gradually joining other political structures, most of whom were abandoned and decadent such as Taliban and warlords. Support of National Assembly for the release of Ajmal is a sign of the parliament valuing the life of its citizens. Now is the time to demonstrate a political value so we could avoid further national and international grievances. We have two concerns: we are disturbed that five Taliban leaders have been released by Afghan government in exchange for a foreign reporter, although we are happy that Mr. Daniel Mastrogiacomo has returned home safely. Secondly, the life of an Afghan journalist was not taken into account, and that freedom of information is not supported in Afghanistan. Daniel is released as a result of his respective government attempts, it reveals the power of citizen-state and support for freedom of expression, the fact Ajmal stays in custody is an evidence of lack of support from Afghan government to protect journalists while it’s obliged by law. We warn if the situation continues like this Afghanistan is fast-becoming a “no-go” area for news media.
A spokesperson for Romano Prodi, Italian prime minister after the release of Mr. Mastrogiacomo said “person life is very precious for us. Mastrogiacomo was released in this line, nothing more” Although this is the official statement of Italian government but once again we can see that politics is a secret game; euphemism and hypocrisy clouds the truth. If really human life mattered for the Italian government, then why Ajmal was left in the “merciful” hands of Taliban? This is when we know Taliban style mercy. When Ajmal, Daniel and the driver were detained by Taliban, the Taliban made Daniel watch the decapitation of his driver. If individual life mattered to Italian government why would they release people who promise to kill more people and have done it? We appreciate the rally of Italians in support of Ajmal but we are sad that Mr. Mastrogiacomo hasn’t publicly appealed for Ajmal’s release. We are also troubled by quotes associated to him in media, on his release he supposedly said “today is the happiest day of my life” how could it be while your colleague is in custody and your driver is dead.
Taliban behavior is against their apparent slogans and values. Taliban on one hand declare Jihad against unbelievers and foreign invaders, but in practice they negotiate with them while they keep their compatriot in captivity or kill brutally. Media is one of Taliban’s essentials for some Afghans and international community Taliban presence is not very tangible, their actions and aims are only projected by media. Media and journalists to cover all angles of a story they travel to Taliban controlled areas. Now that Taliban are holding an Afghan reporter prisoner who has traveled many times to Helmand province is a questions, there are a lot of speculations and debate in media about what really happened and why is Ajmal in captivity, these debates questions the fundamentals of international community, Taliban and Afghan government.
The concept behind choosing national assembly for the rally is to gather support of MPs to demand from the government to do more for Ajmal release, in the hope that we could avoid any hazard to Ajmal. In the face of Ajmal Naqshbandi not returning safely to his family, Afghan government would be facing a major political mistake. Public reluctance has expanded largely, Afghans are gradually joining other political structures, most of whom were abandoned and decadent such as Taliban and warlords. Support of National Assembly for the release of Ajmal is a sign of the parliament valuing the life of its citizens. Now is the time to demonstrate a political value so we could avoid further national and international grievances. We have two concerns: we are disturbed that five Taliban leaders have been released by Afghan government in exchange for a foreign reporter, although we are happy that Mr. Daniel Mastrogiacomo has returned home safely. Secondly, the life of an Afghan journalist was not taken into account, and that freedom of information is not supported in Afghanistan. Daniel is released as a result of his respective government attempts, it reveals the power of citizen-state and support for freedom of expression, the fact Ajmal stays in custody is an evidence of lack of support from Afghan government to protect journalists while it’s obliged by law. We warn if the situation continues like this Afghanistan is fast-becoming a “no-go” area for news media.
A spokesperson for Romano Prodi, Italian prime minister after the release of Mr. Mastrogiacomo said “person life is very precious for us. Mastrogiacomo was released in this line, nothing more” Although this is the official statement of Italian government but once again we can see that politics is a secret game; euphemism and hypocrisy clouds the truth. If really human life mattered for the Italian government, then why Ajmal was left in the “merciful” hands of Taliban? This is when we know Taliban style mercy. When Ajmal, Daniel and the driver were detained by Taliban, the Taliban made Daniel watch the decapitation of his driver. If individual life mattered to Italian government why would they release people who promise to kill more people and have done it? We appreciate the rally of Italians in support of Ajmal but we are sad that Mr. Mastrogiacomo hasn’t publicly appealed for Ajmal’s release. We are also troubled by quotes associated to him in media, on his release he supposedly said “today is the happiest day of my life” how could it be while your colleague is in custody and your driver is dead.
Taliban behavior is against their apparent slogans and values. Taliban on one hand declare Jihad against unbelievers and foreign invaders, but in practice they negotiate with them while they keep their compatriot in captivity or kill brutally. Media is one of Taliban’s essentials for some Afghans and international community Taliban presence is not very tangible, their actions and aims are only projected by media. Media and journalists to cover all angles of a story they travel to Taliban controlled areas. Now that Taliban are holding an Afghan reporter prisoner who has traveled many times to Helmand province is a questions, there are a lot of speculations and debate in media about what really happened and why is Ajmal in captivity, these debates questions the fundamentals of international community, Taliban and Afghan government.
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