Media urged to publish photo in homage to slain Afghan fixer

Reporters Without Borders today made available a photograph of slain Afghan driver and fixer Sayed Agha and called on the media to publish it as a tribute to his contribution to press freedom. The photo was obtained thanks to British journalist Thomas Coghlan, who worked with Agha. Taliban under the command of Mullah Dadullah falsely accused Agha of spying and cut his throat after taking him prisoner along with Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo, for whom he was working. The Taliban returned the body to his family on 24 March. Another Afghan journalist employed by Mastrogiacomo, Adjmal Nasqhbandi, is still being held by the Taliban. "The drivers, interpreters and fixers working for foreign journalists in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan have for years been paying dearly for the cause of press freedom," Reporters Without Borders said. "It is important to pay them homage, and one way of doing this is to put a face to those who have died while doing their job in dangerous conditions." The organisation added: "We appeal to the Afghan and international media to pay tribute to Agha by publishing his photograph."