Call for Release of Afghan Hostages

President Hamid Karzai
Gul Khana Palace
Presidential Palace
Kabul, Afghanistan


Dear Mr. President:

We are writing to urge your government to do everything within its power to work for the release of Ajmal Naqshbandi, the Afghan journalist who was seized last month along with La Repubblica reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo and driver Sayed Agha. While Mr. Mastrogiacomo was freed on March 19 due to the intervention of Afghan authorities, Ajmal apparently is still being held by members of the Taliban somewhere in Helmand province. (Sayed Agha was, tragically, beheaded by his captors.)

We hope that your government will devote as much energy and attention to securing Ajmals safe release as it did to negotiations on behalf of Mr. Mastrogiacomo.

As you know, brave Afghan journalists such as Ajmal routinely undertake far greater risks than a visiting foreign correspondent, and with far less protection. Ajmal had a reputation as a good reporter with a deep understanding of Afghanistans complexities. International attention to the situation in Afghanistan depends on the work of local journalists like him.

We are also deeply concerned about the detention of Rahmatullah Hanefi, a hospital manager working with the Italian humanitarian organization Emergency, which reportedly helped mediate the release of Mr. Mastrogiacomo. Mr. Hanefi was said to have been taken by Afghan security officials immediately after Mr. Mastrogiacomos release and is believed to be held in a prison in Kabul. He has not had access to his family, Emergency staff or lawyers, and there are reports that he was tortured in custody.

We call on your government to release Mr. Hanefi immediately. Humanitarian workers and journalists must maintain contact with a variety of actors in the course of their difficult and dangerous work, including with members of militant organizations. Such contacts should not expose them to persecution by the state.

Thank you for your attention to these urgent matters.