Support for Afghan journalists is vital
The Center for Global Peace Journalism strongly supports initiatives to aid Afghan journalists in this time of need.

Afghan journalists are in dire danger, as has been widely reported in the press. (See AP News and CPJ.org). This danger is especially acute for female journalists. (See Business Insider and BBC). 

While organizations like Amnesty International have rightly called upon Afghan authorities (now, the Taliban) to “take urgent steps to protect journalists,” the best solution is for journalists to be given priority status as refugees and asylum seekers.

On Aug. 2, the State Department announced that Afghan journalists "who are or have been employed by U.S. media organizations would receive priority designation for refugee status. In order to qualify, however, the journalists would have to get to a third country and survive for a year or longer while their applications are processed."  (Washington Post). 

While this is an excellent step, more must be done. Those eligible under the Aug. 2 State Dept. order should be issued SIV program status, which will allow them to come directly to the US rather than wait in a third country for a year. This status should be extended to Afghans who freelanced for Western media outlets, and well as for other Afghan journalists, especially female journalists, who can demonstrate that they are threatened.

What else can be done? My colleague Dr. Jake Lynch suggests contributions to the International Federation of Journalists, which is working to support our colleagues in Afghanistan through their Afghanistan Solidarity Fund. I’m sure the International Center for Journalists and the  Committee to Protect Journalists would also welcome your contributions.

Of course, we can make our representatives aware of our concern for Afghan journalists and our strong belief in liberal relocation, refugee, and asylum policies.

It’s vital that the international journalism community continue to vigilantly monitor the situation in Afghanistan, and loudly advocate for our Afghan brothers and sisters in need.

LATER THIS WEEK: An Afghan colleague (journalist and academic) discusses the situation there, and whether life can ever return to “normal” again. “All we can do is hope,” he said.