Yesterday, on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued a black list of entities which are allegedly against press freedom. They have included name of the leadership of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) in this list and have claimed that IEA is against the freedom of the press and that its influence has now reached Pakistan.

The Cultural Commission of the Islamic Emirate considers this allegation against the leaders of the Islamic Emirate, leveled by the journalist without borders as baseless and futile. The Cultural Commission believes this accusation is a flagrant violation of the journalistic regulations and therefore, announces as follows:

1. The writ of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is only limited to areas of its influence for activities including military, cultural, administrative, political and judicial. The Islamic Emirate is responsible for conducts of its official organs only in these areas, and can’t be held accountable for activities that occur outside the areas of its control.

2. Any reporter who intends to enter areas under the control of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan for filing their reports should obtain prior permission from local administration of the Islamic Emirate. Those foreigners who fail to obtain the prior permission are dealt with as being violators of the legal prevalent regulations. They would not be considered as genuine journalists and for that, they themselves bear the responsibility.

3. The Cultural Commission of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan urges the Committee to Protect Journalists not to pander to the wishes, ambitions and instructions of the arrogant powers and while preparing these blacklists, should not condone the violations being committed by these arrogants. By doing so, you will prove that you are neutral and are not under the pressure of the influential circles.

4. The presence of the invading forces in Afghanistan is an open threat to journalists and their activities. These foreigners first detained Javaid Ahmad Yazmi for one year and then martyred him. The Journalists Without Borders should fulfill their responsibility by making the foreign invaders to respond to the allegations against them about the death of Martyr Yazami and about the torture of Al-jazeera journalists.

5. Recently a Wikileaks website posted a video on its site about the murder of two Reuter’s journalists in Iraq at the hands of the American troops. The Journalists Without Borders should have included names of the White House and Pentagon rulers for their failure to contain their unscrupulous soldiers from committing this crime in the broad day light. As such, they should have cited in their annual report the names of the perpetrators of this gruesome event as it was their obligation for the protection of the innocent deceased journalists.

Cultural Commission

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan