Ministry disbands commission that harassed news media

The announcement added that the ministry would “quickly organize a consultation with journalists’ associations with a view to creating the media commission envisaged under the new law in order to improve media conditions in Afghanistan.” Created under an old law, the commission for the verification of press offences was maintained because of a request by the previous minister that was approved by parliament. Its activities had been a source of conflict between the authorities and journalists’ associations for the past two years. Reporters Without Borders had also repeatedly condemned the commission’s decisions, most recently on 3 May (World Press Freedom Day), when the commission summoned four national dailies, apparently in connection with articles criticizing a decision by the ministry. Contacted by Reporters Without Borders on 5 May, the new information and culture minister, former journalist AbdulBari Jahani, emphasized his commitment to freedom of information and added: “The summons was a misunderstanding. Matters will soon be clarified.” The communiqué announcing the commission’s dissolution was issued a few hours later. “We welcome this decision and we hope that it will soon be followed by others in the same vein, in particular, the creation of the media commission,” said Reza Moini, the head of the Reporters Without Borders Iran/Afghanistan desk. “As a regulatory body, the media commission could play an important role in protecting and reinforcing freedom of information. It is vital that it should see the light of day as soon as possible.” Afghanistan is ranked 122th out of 180 countries in the 2015 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index.