Pakistan: CFWIJ Demand Safety for Exiled Afghan Journalist Nahid Askari Amidst Islamabad's Deportation Campaign
Askari came to Pakistan seeking refuge from the Taliban in Afghanistan
Location: Pakistan, Islamabad
Date: December 5, 2023
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom are deeply concerned about the protection and safety of Afghan journalist Nahid Askari following the Pakistani government's recent crackdown on Afghan migrants residing in Pakistan. Askari, who arrived in Pakistan seeking refuge from the threats posed by the Taliban, is at risk of being deported to Afghanistan following the Pakistani government's deportation campaign against what it calls "illegal foreigners." We call on the international community to pressure Pakistan to ensure the well-being of Askari and her family, as they are at risk of being forced to go back to Afghanistan in a heightened dangerous environment for journalists.
Afghan journalist Nahid Askari and her family believed that seeking refuge in Pakistan would ensure their safety from the threat of the Taliban. However, with Islamabad deporting alleged undocumented Afghans, they now live in constant fear of being sent back to Afghanistan.
Askari relocated to Islamabad in February 2022. Their visa expired seven months ago. Pakistan has thrice rejected their visa renewal requests, leaving them without valid visas and facing uncertainty in their stay in Pakistan. Considering the escalating threats and uncertainties linked to the deportation plan, Askari hopes she can find refuge in a third country.
For Afghan nationals seeking to move to a third country, Pakistan’s interim government has extended the deadline to February 29, 2024, from the previous December 31, 2023. It has also cut the processing fee for the Afghans to $400 from $800. However, Afghan nationals who stay in Pakistan beyond the deadline will have to pay a 100-dollar fine a month for at least eight months. The Pakistani government said it wanted these Afghans to leave for a third country as soon as possible or acquire legal documents for staying in Pakistan.
So far, Pakistan says it has “repatriated” over 400,000 out of approximately 1.7 million Afghans since announcing the government’s plan on October 3. Islamabad asserts that its plan involved enhancing security in the country. Human rights watchdogs, however, have strongly criticized the deportations.
Askari says her family no longer feels secure; even within their place of residence, they face police harassment. They often evacuate their home and seeks refuge in a nearby park until nightfall when the police appear in the area where they reside.
A VOA report mentioned that around 200 journalists in Pakistan are awaiting relocation to third countries. Nahid said the uncertainty of her family’s future is worrying, and she desires nothing but to find refuge in a safe place where her children can attend school and live in peace.
“I want to raise my voice through your media and ask the international community to hear our voice, pay attention to our request, and give us priority.”
“We want the international community to give priority to the immigration cases of journalists and civil activists, especially women,” Askari says in an interview with Salam Watandar, an Afghanistan-based media company. “I want to raise my voice through your media and ask the international community to hear our voice, pay attention to our request, and give us priority.”
At least over two-thirds of Afghan journalists have quit the profession since the Taliban’s return to power, and several media outlets have closed, leaving thousands of media professionals unemployed.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom urges the international community to advocate for the rights of Afghan journalists and their right to seek asylum in countries where they feel safe and protected. We also call upon the Pakistani government to review its deportation policy, recognizing the unique vulnerabilities that Afghan journalists face due to their past history with the Taliban and the perilous conditions they continue to endure. Protecting the lives and freedom of journalists is crucial, and collective efforts are the only way to address the threats and challenges that Nahid and other Afghan journalists continue to grapple with.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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