While media outlets have exploded in Afghanistan since the ouster of the Taliban in late 2001, 2007 proved to be a difficult year for press freedom there.

From the Dec. 20 Institute for War and Peace Reporting article. Incidentally, the authors are Wahidullah Amani and Sayed Yaqub Ibrahimi. The latter is the brother of Sayed Perwiz Kambakhsh, a journalist facing a death sentence for blasphemy:

According to Rahimullah Samander, director of the Independent Association of Journalists of Afghanistan, 2007 has been the worst year for reporters since the fall of the Taleban.

“Violations against journalists are increasing year by year,” said Samander, adding that the government and parliament have been particularly active in threatening and censoring journalists.

The number of violations has jumped from about 50 in 2006 to more than 70 so far this year, according to Samandar.

He said he personally was threatened with arrest by the NDS after investigating some of these cases.

Such incidents fly in the face of Afghan law. Article 34 of the constitution states, “Freedom of expression shall be inviolable. Every Afghan shall have the right to express thoughts through speech, writing, illustrations as well as other means.”

Article 5 of Afghanistan’s Public Media Code, meanwhile, requires the government to provide information requested by journalists or other citizens unless it endangers national security, the country’s territorial integrity or the rights of others.

A new media law has been drawn up and passed by both houses of parliament, but it has been held up for more than two months by President Hamid Karzai. The president is technically required to pass new laws within 15 days or send them back to legislators for revision.

On December 10, some of Afghanistan’s largest media organisations issued a joint statement calling on Karzai to clarify the status of the bill.

Meanwhile, abuses of journalists continue, and some of the culprits are unrepentant.

(h/t to Terry Glavin)