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

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SIPDIS

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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
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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

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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
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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