By IPS Correspondents
MAZAR-E-SHARIF, Aug 25 2007 (IPS)

The media in conflict-scarred Afghanistan is under increasing attack from Taliban forces and powerful social interests.

Three journalists, two of them women, were killed this year. The women reportedly received first threats warning them to stop reporting.

Zakia Zaki, 35, was shot dead as she slept in her bed with her young son on Jun.5. A respected journalist and human rights activist in the province of Parwan just north of Kabul, she headed the U.S.-funded Peace Radio. She was also the principal of a local school and ran for parliament in 2005.

Her killing came five days after the slaying in Kabul of Sanga Amach, 22, news presenter for Shamshad TV, a private television station.

On Apr. 8, the Taliban said they had killed young Ajmal Naqshbandi, who worked as a guide and translator for visiting foreign reporters. He was abducted along with an Italian journalist and their driver at a Taliban checkpoint in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan on Mar. 6. The Italian reporter was later released in a deal with the Taliban, who killed both Afghans.

On Aug. 9, gunmen who identified themselves as personnel of the Afghanistan National Security Directorate picked up Kamran Mir Hazar, chief editor of a popular news website in Kabul and reporter for Salam Watandar Radio. The Ministry of Information has neither confirmed nor denied his arrest.

But journalists point out that media freedom has been increasingly threatened by vested interests both inside and outside the government.

Rohullah Mojadidi, editor-in-chief of a bi-monthly newspaper in northern Afghanistan, says that he cannot afford to be blunt in his writings, and has to exercise self-censorship.

“I think life is choking me now,” he reflects. “There are lots of shortcomings in our society that I want to write, but I cannot do that. I don’t want to put my life at risk,” he says.

Mojadidi established the independent newspaper a year ago. He says that the paper pays for itself from the sales. Mojadidi says that he has received a number of anonymous phone calls threatening him with death.

“I once published an article about the warlords and the weapons in their possession. The next day, I received tens of calls threatening me with death. I was not afraid, but feared the threat to my family. The calls have not stopped. They still call to warn me,” he says.

“I have a child. My wife is against my profession. She doesn’t want to lose me as I am the breadwinner of the family,” he adds. Mojadidi says he has reported the matter to security officials.

Ahmad Masud Ansari, a reporter for a private TV station in northern Afghanistan, candidly observes that he’s scared of his profession.

“I really am afraid of my job. Taliban are targeting journalists now. I want to change my career. I don’t want to be victim of (unforeseen) events,” he says.

Naqibullah Hejran, producer of a political programme on the independent Arzu TV, also fears the situation. “I discuss very hot topics on this programme. Recently, I discussed fundamentalism. I received many calls and they were death threats,” he says. “I don’t know whether to quit the job or accept the risk!”

Women journalists in Afghanistan are particularly at risk.

Tamana, a young girl, who used to work in a private TV station here in Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of Balkh province, has quit her job. “I used to broadcast the news. I covered myself with a scarf, but I received anonymous calls threatening me with death. I received text messages on my mobile telling me to quit the job or accept death,” she says.

She says her family decided not to let her work in TV anymore.

Meanwhile, Negin Parsa, another female reporter for Arzu Radio station, says she hides her profession from her friends and relatives. “My family is against what I am doing,” she says. “They say the Taliban will kill me one day. But, I am interested in radio. When I hear that a journalist was killed in Afghanistan, I believe my turn will also come one day, but still I would love to die for my job,” she adds passionately.

Mobina Khair Andish, head of Rabia Balkhi Women’s Radio Station, says her team is aware of the risks but continue to broadcast. “Some 20 girls are working at my radio station. When Zakia Zaki was shot dead, we were a bit frightened. We have not received any direct threats, but we live in fear of losing our lives,” she observes.

Journalists’ associations have been trying to fight for media rights. Abdul Basir Babai, head of the provincial journalists’ union in Balkh Province says they have received many complaints of death threats from journalists.

“Unknown people have been threatening our journalists. The situation is not easy for journalists to report fairly,” he says.

Qazi Sayed Ahmad Sami of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission says they are in close touch with journalists. “Sometimes warlords or unknown people threaten the journalists. But, we are keeping an eye on the situation. It is a war-plagued country and anything can happen here,” he observes.

The police in Balkh province claim they are working round the clock for the safety of journalists. “We even send soldiers if they (reporters) go outside the capital for reporting,” Sardar Mohammad Sultani, the provincial security commander told IPS.

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