JURIST - Paper Chase: Afghanistan journalists sentenced for violating mass media law, disobeying AG

[JURIST] Authorities in Afghanistan [JURIST news archive] have sentenced two Tolo Television [network website] journalists for "violating mass media law" and disobeying orders of the attorney general, according to state-controlled Afghanistan National Television (ANTV) Wednesday. In April, Afghan Attorney General Abdul Jabbar Sabet ordered a raid on the television network to bring in reporter Hamid Haidary. Sabet said Haidary had misquoted him and summoned him because he had reported that Sabet wanted to execute several convicts.

In April, more than 100 Afghan journalists gathered in front of parliament in Kabul to protest the police raid [JURIST report] and call for Sabet's resignation. The journalists condemned the raid as an infringement on freedom of speech. In June of last year, Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] said rules promulgated by the Afghan government aimed at curbing negative reports on the country's failing security situation violated free speech principles and should be repealed [JURIST report]. RFE/RL has more.

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