Two journalists killed in attack on radio station in northeastern Afghanistan -RSF

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns today’s attack on Radio Hamseda in Taloqan, the capital of the northeastern province of Takhar, in which two journalists were shot dead. The attack was carried out by two unidentified gunmen who entered the radio station at around 5 p.m., asked who was in charge and then opened fire on the two journalists present at the time. One was acting news editor Shafiq Arya, 28. The other, identified only as Rahimullah, 26, was presenting a programme. Provincial police chief Rashid Bashir confirmed the death of the two journalists and said an investigation was under way. “We offer our condolences to the families and colleagues of Shafiq Arya and Rahimullah, and we urge the police to conduct a thorough investigation in order to identify this attack’s perpetrators and instigators as quickly as possible,” said Reza Moini, the head of RSF’s Iran-Afghanistan desk. Radio Hamseda employs 11 people, including four women, and has been broadcasting from 6 a.m. to midnight since 2007. Owner Simin Hosseini, who is a member of Taloqan’s municipal council, said he had received no threats. Afghanistan is ranked 118th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2018 World Press Freedom Index. Reporters withous borders