From journalists’ tears to a multi-million dollar business. Who is accountable?

Kabul Times News Exclusive Report

It is sad to say that Alam Kabiri has passed away, but organizations supporting journalists in Afghanistan are still busy having fun, holding show-off meetings, and spending the funds they receive in the name of journalists.

A serious question arises as to how all the money paid by UNESCO to organizations supporting journalists in Afghanistan is distributed?

Why does each organization receive from $15,000 to $500,000? Is this assistance paid based on merit, need, and transparency, or based on personal relationships and affiliations?

We have documents that show that several organizations that present themselves as defenders of journalists are actually engaged in business. These organizations have received projects from UNESCO and their budgets have been paid months ago. Two organizations, which traveled to two provinces of Kandahar and... just in the name of holding a seminar, have organized programs and in the end have only paid the travel expenses of the journalists.

On the other hand, another organization has organized a seminar for twelve girls and has paid a huge amount of money to each of them.

The question is, on what criteria were these funds paid?

Another issue is that Mr. Alam Kabiri repeatedly requested help from organizations supporting journalists in Afghanistan, but why did these organizations not provide him with any help? Is the criterion for helping that a person be close to these organizations or have special affiliations and relationships?

This business must be ended because some people in the name of journalists collect capital, build buildings, buy gardens and provide themselves with luxurious lives. They even took over the UNESCO project and other projects through their subordinate institutions in the name of the licenses of law and construction companies that originally belong to them. While many journalists in Afghanistan are deprived of even having a job, income and dinner.

We have documents that show that one of the institutions supporting journalists in Afghanistan has paid $300 as an Eid gift to an official of the Ministry of Information and Culture during Eid days and is still going on. There are also many stories about provincial trips and related expenses, which if the truth is revealed one day, will raise many questions.

Do these people have a conscience? Do they understand the pain and suffering of Afghan journalists? Do they know that many journalists, after years of service, are living in the worst conditions today?

The death of Alam Kabiri was not just the death of a journalist. Rather, it is a clear sign of the bitter fate of hundreds of journalists who were forgotten in silence and those who considered themselves their defenders only thought of their own personal interests.

Please watch the video until the end. The judgment is in your hands….