With the country now under Taliban control, a second open letter urges the government to honour its commitment to protect vulnerable Afghan media colleagues
The joint call to the prime minister and foreign secretary comes two weeks after the coalition’s success in committing the government to protecting those who helped British media during the conflict and now find themselves at risk of reprisals.
The letter praises the government’s initial response, stating: “You recognised their vital contribution to a free press by reporting on the British mission in Afghanistan and promised colleagues at risk a path to safety.”
But with the Taliban taking power in Kabul with unexpected ease, “our colleagues are trapped there”, the letter continues, pushing to ensure they are evacuated as quickly as possible.
“Given the threats to the safety of Afghan journalists, we ask the British government to urgently take these steps to protect our colleagues”.
As well as having been signed by outlets from across the British print and broadcast media industries, the most recent letter has also received backing from the News Media Association and its sentiments echoed by the National Union of Journalists.
