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Former Times Interpreter Killed in Afghanistan Former Interpreter for The Times Is Killed in Afghanistan
(about 3 hours later)
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — Noor Ahmad Noori, an Afghan interpreter who formerly worked for The New York Times in Afghanistan, was found beaten and stabbed to death, wrapped in a sack and dumped on a roadside late Thursday outside Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand Province, where he lived, government officials and family members reported.KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — Noor Ahmad Noori, an Afghan interpreter who formerly worked for The New York Times in Afghanistan, was found beaten and stabbed to death, wrapped in a sack and dumped on a roadside late Thursday outside Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand Province, where he lived, government officials and family members reported.
The relatives said Mr. Noori, 29, a well-known local journalist who was engaged to be married, had been abducted by armed men earlier on Thursday and had been missing for nine hours.The relatives said Mr. Noori, 29, a well-known local journalist who was engaged to be married, had been abducted by armed men earlier on Thursday and had been missing for nine hours.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the killing, and it was unclear whether it was a criminal or personal matter, or possibly connected to the Taliban insurgency.There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the killing, and it was unclear whether it was a criminal or personal matter, or possibly connected to the Taliban insurgency.
A spokesman for the governor of Helmand Province, Omar Zwak, said Friday that the police had found the body north of Lashkar Gah, and that he had been “beaten severely until he died.” A spokesman for the governor of Helmand Province, Omar Zwak, said Friday that the police had found the body north of Lashkar Gah, and that Mr. Noori had been “beaten severely until he died.”
Mr. Noori’s elder brother, Rasiullah, said he also had multiple stab wounds on his head and body and might have suffocated.Mr. Noori’s elder brother, Rasiullah, said he also had multiple stab wounds on his head and body and might have suffocated.
The police are investigating the case, and the Helmand governor promised journalists that the government would release the information as soon as the investigation was completed. The governor pledged to “find the culprits,” Mr. Zwak said.The police are investigating the case, and the Helmand governor promised journalists that the government would release the information as soon as the investigation was completed. The governor pledged to “find the culprits,” Mr. Zwak said.
Mr. Noori first went to work for The Times in 2010. He left by mutual agreement early last fall. Mr. Noori also worked for Bost, a local Helmand radio broadcaster.Mr. Noori first went to work for The Times in 2010. He left by mutual agreement early last fall. Mr. Noori also worked for Bost, a local Helmand radio broadcaster.
He was well known to many people in the local government as well as to the civilians working with the United States military mission there. Mr. Noori had worked with a number of different news organizations in Helmand and spoke some English.He was well known to many people in the local government as well as to the civilians working with the United States military mission there. Mr. Noori had worked with a number of different news organizations in Helmand and spoke some English.
The Taliban are strong throughout Helmand despite many efforts to curb their influence, including an extensive surge by the United States Marines in 2010 and 2011. The British military has also worked hard to reduce the scope of Taliban control both before and during the American surge, but the largely Pashtun population in Helmand includes many insurgent sympathizers, Helmand remains one of the Taliban strongholds. The Taliban are strong throughout Helmand despite many efforts to curb their influence, including an extensive surge by the United States Marines in 2010 and 2011. The British military has also worked hard to reduce the scope of Taliban control both before and during the American surge, but the largely Pashtun population in Helmand includes many insurgent sympathizers, and Helmand remains one of the Taliban’s strongholds.
Although the city of Lashkar Gah is still relatively secure, a few miles beyond the city limits, the Taliban are able to move with considerable freedom. Farther afield in the province, they have de facto control. Although the city of Lashkar Gah is still relatively secure, a few miles beyond the city limits, the Taliban are able to move with considerable freedom.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, an advocacy group based in New York, 24 journalists have been killed in Afghanistan since 1992, and of those, all but two have been killed since 2001. The vast majority were killed in covering wars there, and half of the journalists killed were murdered, as opposed to dying in crossfires or other lethal accidents, according to the committee. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 24 journalists have been killed in Afghanistan since 1992, and of those, all but two have been killed since 2001. The vast majority were killed in covering wars there, and half of the journalists killed were murdered, as opposed to dying in crossfires or other accidents, according to the committee.
More than two-thirds of those killed were foreigners, and the rest were local Afghan reporters.