FOLLOW-UP ON ATTACKS AND THREATS TO AFGHAN FEMALE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 002246 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG NSC FOR AHARRIMAN OSD FOR SHIVERS CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A. CG CJTF-82 POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM AF SUBJECT: FOLLOW-UP ON ATTACKS AND THREATS TO AFGHAN FEMALE JOURNALISTS Classified By: Political Counselor Sara Rosenberry for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Following the murders of two prominent female journalists (Zakia Zaki and Shakiba Sanga Amaj), Embassy officers met with both women's families to get further details on what happened. One case appears to have resulted from a family dispute. The family of the other victim report they have not received any threats and do not appear to be in danger. The Embassy also met with a third female journalist, Farida Nekzad of Pajhwok News Service, who reports receiving threats describing her as being "next on the list" of female journalists to be silenced since attending the funeral of Zakia Zaki. She did not request help from the USG. End summary. ¶2. (C) On June 26, Embassy Political and Public Affairs Officers met with Abdulahad Ranjbar, the husband of Zakia Zaki (murdered June 1),and Mr. Engineer Mohammad Rabi, the father of Shakiba Sanga Amaj (gunned down on June 5) to present condolence letters from the Ambassador and explore what their families believed was the motive behind the women's murders. Mr. Ranjbar mentioned having also received a condolence letter from First Lady Laura Bush for which he expressed appreciation. FOLLOW-UP ON ZAKIA ZAKI -------------- ¶3. (C) Mr. Ranjbar said he believed his wife, Zakia Zaki, had been murdered because she was a long-time critic of several warlords who still maintain power bases throughout the central provinces of Parwan (where Zaki's station, Radio Peace, is based),Kapisa, Panjshir, and Kabul. He specifically mentioned former Parwan Chief of Police Mawlana Abdul Rahman Sayedkheil (who is now police chief in Baghlan but is rumored to still maintain control in Parwan province),former Kabul Chief of Police Amanullah Ghuza, and Haji Almas, who is a member of Parliament from Parwan province and rumored to maintain links to Hizbe-Islami Gulbuddin (HIG). Given other reports suggesting that the Taliban orchestrated Zaki's murder, as part of its long-standing edict to kill women working for the GOA or the international community, POLOFF asked Mr. Ranjbar whether he thought the Taliban was in any way connected to his wife's death. Mr. Ranjbar said he did not think the Taliban were linked to his wife's murder. ¶4. (C) During the meeting, Mr. Ranjbar made two requests for USG assistance: The first was to provide funding for a new building for Radio Peace, so that the radio station can continue its coverage from a more secure location. Mr. Ranjbar's second request was for USG assistance in sending his children to the U.S. for education. Mr. Ranjbar stated that the family has not received any direct or indirect threats since Zaki's murder, but he would like to relocate his children to the U.S. "for their mental well-being." FOLLOW-UP ON SHAKIBA SANGA AMAJ -------------- ¶5. (C) Mr. Engineer Mohammad Rabi, father of TV anchor Shakiba Sanga Amaj, murdered on June 1, explained that the threats against his family began in mid-2005. Since then and leading up to Amaj's murder, the family had been subjected to multiple night letters issuing death threats, attempts to kidnap members of the family, and at least two grenade attacks on the family's home. Mr. Rabi alleged that the threats and attacks had been orchestrated by a man he called Mr. Nazib, who was once married to Rabi's KABUL 00002246 002 OF 002 sister, and whom Rabi alleged is connected to Iran. (Note: Post has learned from UNAMA, which is doing its own investigation of the murders, that Mr. Nazib was arrested on March 22 and is currently serving a two- year sentence in jail on charges related to a domestic dispute with his wife, Shakiba Sanga Amaj's aunt. UNAMA has suggested that Shakiba's death was perhaps a retaliation for the uncle's arrest.) Mr. Rabi has asked for USG assistance in getting political asylum for his family. While he implied a strong Iranian connection to the threats and attacks against his family, he was not able to explain why the Iranian government would be after his family. At its core, the threats and attacks on this family, including the death of Shakiba Sanga Amaj, appear to have familial - not political - motives. A THIRD FEMALE JOURNALIST FACES THREATS -------------- ¶6. (C) Several local and international journalists unions have brought attention to the threats received by a third female journalist in Afghanistan, Farida Nekzad of Pajhwok News Service. During a June 24 meeting with POLOFF, Ms. Nekzad explained that the threats against her began in earnest while she was attending the June 7 funeral of Zakia Zaki. Since then, she has received daily phone calls and occasional emails noting that she is "next on the list" of prominent female journalists to be silenced. Ms. Nekzad has stopped working from the Pajhwok office and now sleeps at a different relative's home each night. She noted that she fears for her life but is unsure whether she wants to remain in Afghanistan and continue her work or to leave for her own protection. She shared that she believes leaving would hand a victory to her tormentors. She has not requested assistance from the USG. WOOD