Husain Naderi, 20, a reporter for the AVA news agency was killed in a bombing at the press event in Mazar-e-Sharif on March 11, 2023
March 13, 2023
Mazar-e-sharif, Balkh Province - Husain Naderi, a reporter for the Afghan Voice Agency(AVA), was killed in a bombing that took place during an Afghan press event in Mazar-e-Sharif, capital of northern Balkh province. The blast also resulted in injuries to at least 19 other media workers.
On Saturday, March 11, a bomb exploded at the Tabian cultural center and the office of the news agency Afghan Voice (AVA) in Mazar-e-Sharif. The incident occurred during a gathering of journalists who were celebrating National Journalist Day.
The Afghan Voice Agency reported on Sunday that two people were killed in the blast, but their identities were not yet known at the time. On Monday, March 13, Sajjad Mosawi, a reporter for the news agency in Balkh province who was also injured in the attack, identified Husain Naderi, a 20-year-old reporter for AVA, as one of the victims. Naderi had been with AVA for two years, covering news in Balkh province. Mosawi also confirmed that Akmal Nazari, a 21-year-old student from the Journalism faculty in Balkh and a trainee at the agency, lost their life in the attack.
According to sources from AFJC in Balkh, at least 19 journalists sustained injuries, with some suffering severe injuries and hearing loss.
The Islamic State - Khorasan Province, a faction of the Islamic State group (Daesh), has claimed responsibility for the bombing in a statement published by its news agency, Amaq. The militant group stated that the attack targeted "journalists working in agencies involved in the war against the Islamic State."
Ahmad Quraishi, the Executive Director of AFJC, expressed deep sadness over the tragic loss of journalist Husain Naderi and journalism trainee Akmal Nazari. Husain Naderi is the first journalist to have been killed in Afghanistan this year. Quraishi called on the Taliban authorities to promptly initiate an investigation and ensure the safety of journalists and media personnel in the country. Additionally, he urged the Taliban to hold those responsible for this reprehensible act accountable.