This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/6569249.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Row over Afghan TV station raid | Row over Afghan TV station raid |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Staff at an Afghan television station in the capital, Kabul, have protested against a raid by armed police who allegedly assaulted workers there. | Staff at an Afghan television station in the capital, Kabul, have protested against a raid by armed police who allegedly assaulted workers there. |
| Dozens of journalists and members of parliament demonstrated outside parliament against the raid. | |
| They accused President Hamid Karzai of smothering freedom of speech during Tuesday's raid at Tolo TV. | They accused President Hamid Karzai of smothering freedom of speech during Tuesday's raid at Tolo TV. |
| MP and former journalist Shukria Barakzai accused the authorities of having no respect for the law. | MP and former journalist Shukria Barakzai accused the authorities of having no respect for the law. |
| 'Over-reaction' | 'Over-reaction' |
| "It's a small example for journalists in Afghanistan. We face lots of violence," he told the rally outside parliament. | "It's a small example for journalists in Afghanistan. We face lots of violence," he told the rally outside parliament. |
| Staff at Tolo are renowned for their campaigns for social change | Staff at Tolo are renowned for their campaigns for social change |
| Staff at Tolo say that about 50 armed police entered its offices, assaulted staff and arrested three people who were taken to the attorney general's office. | Staff at Tolo say that about 50 armed police entered its offices, assaulted staff and arrested three people who were taken to the attorney general's office. |
| He had complained earlier about an item broadcast in one of the station's news programmes which he said misrepresented a speech he made in parliament. | He had complained earlier about an item broadcast in one of the station's news programmes which he said misrepresented a speech he made in parliament. |
| The New York based Committee to Protect Journalists described the raid as an "over-reaction", and an indication that Kabul was moving quickly away from its pledge of press freedom. | The New York based Committee to Protect Journalists described the raid as an "over-reaction", and an indication that Kabul was moving quickly away from its pledge of press freedom. |
| The BBC's Pam O'Toole says that the raid also says a lot about the difficult relationship between the government and media in Afghanistan. | The BBC's Pam O'Toole says that the raid also says a lot about the difficult relationship between the government and media in Afghanistan. |
| Demonstrators complained of government harassment | Demonstrators complained of government harassment |
| Our correspondent says that Tolo is regarded as one of the stations trying to test the boundaries of what is acceptable broadcasting. | Our correspondent says that Tolo is regarded as one of the stations trying to test the boundaries of what is acceptable broadcasting. |
| Afghanistan has hundreds of newspapers and magazines, more than 50 FM radio stations and a number of private TV stations. | Afghanistan has hundreds of newspapers and magazines, more than 50 FM radio stations and a number of private TV stations. |
| But journalists' associations accuse the government of trying to restrict press freedom. | But journalists' associations accuse the government of trying to restrict press freedom. |
| They say journalists across the country have been arrested, beaten, intimidated and threatened by government officials, local powerbrokers, or Taleban-led insurgents. | They say journalists across the country have been arrested, beaten, intimidated and threatened by government officials, local powerbrokers, or Taleban-led insurgents. |
| 'Irresponsible reporting' | 'Irresponsible reporting' |
| "The police beat us with the butts of AK-47s, with the barrels of AK-47s, and they punched us and kicked us before we were arrested," said Tolo journalist Siddiq Ahmadzada. | "The police beat us with the butts of AK-47s, with the barrels of AK-47s, and they punched us and kicked us before we were arrested," said Tolo journalist Siddiq Ahmadzada. |
| Last year there was a major row after national media organisations publicised what they said was a list of regulations given to them by the intelligence service aimed at restricting what they could report. | Last year there was a major row after national media organisations publicised what they said was a list of regulations given to them by the intelligence service aimed at restricting what they could report. |
| The government later denied producing any such regulations. | The government later denied producing any such regulations. |
| Government officials have accused some media outlets of inaccurate or irresponsible reporting in a country where the free press is still in its infancy and libel laws are not well enforced. | Government officials have accused some media outlets of inaccurate or irresponsible reporting in a country where the free press is still in its infancy and libel laws are not well enforced. |