International appeal to support the immediate release of a young Afghan Journalist
18 January 2008, 01:12
It is funny how the people in Afghanistan think that it is a democracy. As an Afghan and a journalist, I think it is even funnier that the people abroad think it is a democracy too.
One founding father of America once said that if he were to choose between a dictatorship with freedom of speech and a democracy without it, he would choose the former.
Yet in Afghanistan, speaking up for what you believe in or what the truth is or merely quoting someone else is 100% illegal as long as someone in power deems it to be so.
Worse than that is the fact that when you read international media and you expect them to draw attention to it, it turns out they’re bound by their own national interests.
I hope you get released my friend, I sincerely do.
It is funny how the people in Afghanistan think that it is a democracy. As an Afghan and a journalist, I think it is even funnier that the people abroad think it is a democracy too.
One founding father of America once said that if he were to choose between a dictatorship with freedom of speech and a democracy without it, he would choose the former.
Yet in Afghanistan, speaking up for what you believe in or what the truth is or merely quoting someone else is 100% illegal as long as someone in power deems it to be so.
Worse than that is the fact that when you read international media and you expect them to draw attention to it, it turns out they’re bound by their own national interests.
I hope you get released my friend, I sincerely do.
Josh Shahryar