Jump to content

Noor Ahmed Noori: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
Serious overhaul of career section; rewrite of existing text for clarity. Made no attempt at fact checking - only focused on style, grammar, flow
 
(31 intermediate revisions by 17 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|Afghan radio journalist}}
{{Draft article|source=ArticleWizard|date=September 2016}}
{{ WAP assignment | course = Wikipedia:Wiki Ed/University of Southern Indiana/Introduction to Mass Communication (Fall 2016) | university = University of Southern Indiana | term = 2016 Q3 | project = WikiProject Journalism }}
{{bareurls}}

{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix =
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Noor Ahmad Noori<!-- include middle initial, if not specified in birth_name -->
| name = Noor Ahmed Noori<!-- include middle initial, if not specified in birth_name -->
| honorific_suffix =
| honorific_suffix =
| image = <!-- filename only, no "File:" or "Image:" prefix, and no enclosing [[brackets]] -->
| image = <!-- filename only, no "File:" or "Image:" prefix, and no enclosing [[brackets]] -->
Line 12: Line 9:
| alt =
| alt =
| caption =
| caption =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| pronunciation =
| birth_name = <!-- only use if different from name above -->
| birth_name = <!-- only use if different from name above -->
| birth_date = '''January 1st 1985'''<!-- {{birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} for living people supply only the year with {{Birth year and age|YYYY}} unless the exact date is already widely published, as per [[WP:DOB]]. For people who have died, use {{Birth date|YYYY|MM|DD}}. -->
| birth_date = ca. 1985<!-- {{birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} for living people supply only the year with {{Birth year and age|YYYY}} unless the exact date is already widely published, as per [[WP:DOB]]. For people who have died, use {{Birth date|YYYY|MM|DD}}. -->
| death_date = January 23, 2014 <!-- {{Death date and age|2014|01|23|1985|01|01}} (death date then birth date) -->
| birth_place =
| baptised = <!-- will not display if birth_date is entered -->
| disappeared_date = <!-- {{disappeared date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (disappeared date then birth date) -->
| disappeared_place =
| disappeared_status =
| death_date = '''January 23rd 2014''' <!-- {{Death date and age|2014|01|23|1985|01|01}} (death date then birth date) -->
| death_place = Lashkar Gah, Helmand, Afghanistan
| death_place = Lashkar Gah, Helmand, Afghanistan
| death_cause = Murder by strangulation
| death_cause = Murder by strangulation
| body_discovered = In a car salesman's yard
| body_discovered = In a car salesman's yard
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LONG|type:landmark|display=inline}} -->
| burial_place = <!-- may be used instead of resting_place and resting_place_coordinates (displays "Burial place" as label) -->
| burial_place = <!-- may be used instead of resting_place and resting_place_coordinates (displays "Burial place" as label) -->
| burial_coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LONG|type:landmark|display=inline}} -->
| burial_coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LONG|type:landmark|display=inline}} -->
| monuments =
| nationality = Afghan
| residence = Lashkar Gah, Helmand, Afghanistan
| nationality = Afghanistan
| other_names =
| ethnicity =
| citizenship =
| education =
| alma_mater =
| occupation = Journalist for radio and print
| occupation = Journalist for radio and print
| employer = Radio Bost FM Helmand & ''New York Times''
| years_active =
| era =
| employer = Radio Bost FM Helmand & New York Times
| organization =
| agent = <!-- Discouraged in most cases, specifically when promotional, and requiring a reliable source -->
| agent = <!-- Discouraged in most cases, specifically when promotional, and requiring a reliable source -->
| known_for =
| known_for =
| notable_works = <!-- produces label "Notable work"; may be overridden by |credits=, which produces label "Notable credit(s)"; or by |works=, which produces label "Works" -->
| notable_works = <!-- produces label "Notable work"; may be overridden by |credits=, which produces label "Notable credit(s)"; or by |works=, which produces label "Works" -->
| style =
| home_town =
| salary =
| net_worth = <!-- Net worth should be supported with a citation from a reliable source -->
| height = <!-- "X cm", "X m" or "X ft Y in" plus optional reference (conversions are automatic) -->
| weight = <!-- "X kg", "X lb" or "X st Y lb" plus optional reference (conversions are automatic) -->
| television =
| title =
| term =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| party =
| movement =
| opponents =
| boards =
| religion = <!-- Religion should be supported with a citation from a reliable source; do not add a religious denomination here -->
| denomination = <!-- Denomination should be supported with a citation from a reliable source -->
| criminal_charge = <!-- Criminality parameters should be supported with citations from reliable sources -->
| criminal_penalty =
| criminal_status =
| spouse = <!-- Use article title or common name -->
| partner = <!-- (unmarried long-term partner) -->
| children =
| parents = <!-- overrides mother and father parameters -->
| mother = <!-- may be used (optionally with father parameter) in place of parents parameter (displays "Parent(s)" as label) -->
| father = <!-- may be used (optionally with mother parameter) in place of parents parameter (displays "Parent(s)" as label) -->
| relatives =
| family = Rasiullah, elder brother
| family = Rasiullah, elder brother
| callsign =
| awards =
| website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
| website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
}}
| module =
'''Noor Ahmed Noori''' (ca. 1985 – January 23, 2014), often transliterated as Ahmad, was an Afghan radio journalist for Radio Bost FM station in [[Helmand province]] and for the ''[[New York Times]]''. Noori worked as a [[translator]] from 2010 to 2013 and was killed in [[Afghanistan]] in 2014.<ref name= nytimes>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/25/world/asia/former-times-translator-killed-in-afghanistan.html|first1=Taimoor|last1=Shah|first2=Alissa J.|last2=Rubin|title=Former Interpreter for The Times Is Killed in Afghanistan|date=January 25, 2014|publisher=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name=guardian>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/24/afghanistan-journalist-dead-helmand-province|title=Afghan journalist Noor Ahmed Noori found dead in Helmand province|first=Mokhtar|last=Amiri|publisher=The Guardian (UK)|date=January 24, 2014}}</ref> Noori was the first journalist to be killed in Helmand in five years.<ref name="upi.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.upi.com/Body-of-Afghan-journalist-found-burned-mutilated-in-Helmand-province/95291390598248/|title=Body of Afghan journalist found burned, mutilated in Helmand province}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/24/afghanistan-journalist-dead-helmand-province|title=Afghan journalist Noor Ahmed Noori found dead in Helmand province|first=Mokhtar|last=Amiri|date=24 January 2014|via=The Guardian}}</ref> Noori was also the first to be killed in a week that would be followed by several other killings in the Kabul area, including a suicide bombing the [[Taliban]] claimed responsibility for.<ref name=reuters />
| module2 =
| module3 =
| module4 =
| module5 =
| module6 =
| signature =
| signature_size =
| signature_alt =
| footnotes =
}}'''Noor Ahmad Noori''' (January 1st 1985 - January 23rd 2014), an Afghan radio journalist for Radio Bost FM station in [[Helmand province]] and for the [[New York Times]] as a [[translator]] from 2010 to 2013 in [[Afghanistan]] was killed. <ref name= nytimes>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/25/world/asia/former-times-translator-killed-in-afghanistan.html|first1=Taimoor|last1=Shah|first2=Alissa J.|last2=Rubin|title=Former Interpreter for The Times Is Killed in Afghanistan|date=January 25, 2014|publisher=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name=guardian>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/24/afghanistan-journalist-dead-helmand-province|title=Afghan journalist Noor Ahmed Noori found dead in Helmand province|first=Mokhtar|last=Amiri|publisher=The Guardian (UK)|date=January 24, 2014}}</ref> Noori was the first journalist to be killed in Helmand in five years.<ref>http://www.upi.com/Body-of-Afghan-journalist-found-burned-mutilated-in-Helmand-province/95291390598248/</ref> <ref>https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/24/afghanistan-journalist-dead-helmand-province</ref> Noori was also the first to be killed in a week that would be followed by several other killings in the Kabul area, including a suicide bombing the Taliban claimed responsibility for. <ref>http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/International/2014/Jan-26/245314-suicide-bomber-kills-four-in-kabul-attack-on-afghan-army-bus.ashx</ref>


==Personal life==

Noor Ahmed Noori, 29 years old, was engaged to be married at the time he was murdered.<ref name=rawa>{{cite web|url=http://www.rawa.org/temp/runews/2014/03/29/journalists-increasingly-under-attack.html|title=Journalists increasingly under attack |publisher=RAWA News |date=March 29, 2014}}</ref> He lived outside of [[Lashkargah|Lashkar Gah]], the capital of Helmand Province which is fairly secure from the Taliban inside the city limits.<ref name="guardian"/> Noori could speak fluent English. He was well known and familiar with the local government officials including the civilians who were working with the United States military mission.<ref name= nytimes/>
==Personal==
Noor Ahmed Noori, 29 years old, was engaged to be married at the time he was murdered. <ref name=rawa>{{cite web|url=http://www.rawa.org/temp/runews/2014/03/29/journalists-increasingly-under-attack.html|title=Journalists increasingly under attack |publisher=RAWA News |date=March 29, 2014}}</ref> He lived outside of Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand Province which is fairly secure from the Taliban inside the city limits.<ref name="guardian"/>Noori spoke some English. He was well known and familiar with the local government officials including the civilians who were working with the United States military mission.<ref name= nytimes/>


==Career==
==Career==
Noori has worked with several different news organizations in Helmand.<ref name=nydailynews>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/afghan-reporter-tortured-killed-southern-province-helmand-article-1.1590320|first=Deborah|last=Hastings|title=Afghan reporter tortured, killed in southern province of Helmand|publisher=New York Daily News|date=January 24, 2014}}</ref> He was a young journalist who worked as a translator at the New York Times from 2010 to 2013. At his time of death he reported for a local radio station, Bost as a producer for two religious programs, called "Membar" and "Mehrab." This radio station was known for reports on cultural, religious, entertainment, and social issues. Ahmed Shah Passon, Noori's director at Bost, said Noori had not reported on anything controversial or sensitive at Bost.<ref name=nydailynews/><ref name=cpj>{{cite web|url=https://www.cpj.org/killed/2014/noor-ahmad-noori.php|title=Noor Ahmad Noori - Journalists Killed |publisher=Committee to Protect Journalists |date=January 23, 2014}}</ref>
Noori has worked with several different news organizations in Helmand province.<ref name=nydailynews>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/afghan-reporter-tortured-killed-southern-province-helmand-article-1.1590320|first=Deborah|last=Hastings|title=Afghan reporter tortured, killed in southern province of Helmand|publisher=New York Daily News|date=January 24, 2014}}</ref> He worked as a translator at the ''New York Times'' from 2010 to 2013. Additionally, he has worked with several different NGO's and maintained a good reputation among his peers. Noori also established an institution called "Khybar", which focused on teaching English alongside computer skills. He worked at this institution for several years as a teacher. This decision to start teaching reportedly was made after he spent some time in neighboring country Pakistan, where he picked up the knowledge required for such a task. At the time of his death he was a producer for two religious programs at Radio Bost, called "Membar" and "Mehrab". Radio Bost was primarily known for reports on culture, religion, entertainment, and social issues. Ahmed Shah Passon, Noori's director at Radio Bost, said Noori had not reported on anything controversial or sensitive at Radio Bost.<ref name=nydailynews/><ref name=cpj>{{cite web|url=https://www.cpj.org/killed/2014/noor-ahmad-noori.php|title=Noor Ahmad Noori – Journalists Killed |publisher=Committee to Protect Journalists |date=January 23, 2014}}</ref>


==Death==
==Death==
Noor Ahmed Noori's bloodied body was found in a sack at Lashkar Gah, where he lived.<ref name=guardian/> Family Members, including his brother, said that he had received threatening phone calls before his death. <ref name=nydailynews/> Bost Radio manager said that he was being threatened by anti-government armed mulitiant groups during the recent months. Before his death, Noori had been missing since 10 a.m. in his local time.<ref name=khaama>{{cite news|url=http://www.khaama.com/militants-kill-new-york-times-local-correpondent-in-helmand-2719|first=|last=Ghanizada|title=Militants kill New York Times local correpondent in Helmand|publisher=Khaama Press(KP), Afghan News Agency|date=January 24, 2014}}</ref> A forensic doctor at Lashkar Gah hospital had said that Noor Ahmed Noori had been tortured before being murdered. He was beaten and stabbed to death. His death was caused by at least two knife blows to the head and likely strangulation with a scarf.<ref name=guardian /><ref name=rsf>{{cite web|url=https://rsf.org/en/news/young-radio-journalist-tortured-and-killed-helmand|title=Young radio journalist tortured and killed in Helmand |publisher=Reporters Without Borders|date=January 24, 2014}}</ref> Abdul Ahad Coopan, the spokes person for the provincial police chief, stated that when they found the bag he body was in they believed it was a bomb before further investigating. <ref>http://www.upi.com/Body-of-Afghan-journalist-found-burned-mutilated-in-Helmand-province/95291390598248/</ref>

<!--begin wikitable-->{{Location map+ |Afghanistan
<!--begin wikitable-->{{Location map+ |Afghanistan
| relief = 1
| relief = 1
Line 123: Line 59:
| mark = Red pog.svg
| mark = Red pog.svg
| label = Lashkar Gah}}
| label = Lashkar Gah}}
}}<!--end wikitable-->Noor Ahmed Noori's bloodied body was found in a sack at Lashkar Gah, where he lived.<ref name=guardian/> Family members, including his brother, said that he had received threatening phone calls before his death.<ref name=nydailynews/> Bost Radio manager said that he was being threatened by anti-government armed militant groups during the recent months. Before his body was discovered, Noori had been missing since 10 a.m. local time.<ref name=khaama>{{cite news|url=http://www.khaama.com/militants-kill-new-york-times-local-correpondent-in-helmand-2719|last=Ghanizada|title=Militants kill New York Times local correpondent {{sic|hide=y|reason=spelling error in source title}} in Helmand|publisher=Khaama Press (KP), Afghan News Agency|date=January 24, 2014}}</ref> His body was found in a car salesman's yard. Abdul Ahad Coopan, the spokesperson for the provincial police chief said when the bag his body was in was found they believed it was a bomb before further investigating.<ref name="upi.com"/> A forensic doctor at Lashkar Gah hospital had said that Noor Ahmed Noori had been tortured before being murdered. He was beaten and stabbed to death. His death was caused by at least two knife blows to the head and likely strangulation with a scarf.<ref name=guardian /><ref name=rsf>{{cite web|url=https://rsf.org/en/news/young-radio-journalist-tortured-and-killed-helmand|title=Young radio journalist tortured and killed in Helmand |publisher=Reporters Without Borders|date=January 24, 2014}}</ref>
}}<!--end wikitable-->


==Context==
==Context==
Helmand is one of the country’s most dangerous regions for journalists. In Helmand a press conference was held, many journalists then stated that they felt powerless against threats they had been receiving to the point in which they are unable to work properly.<ref></ref>Although the city of Lashkar Gah, where Noori was murdered, is somewhat secure the Taliban are able to move with considerable freedom.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/25/world/asia/former-times-translator-killed-in-afghanistan.html?_r=0</ref>
Helmand is one of the country's most dangerous regions for journalists. In Helmand a press conference was held, many journalists then stated that they felt powerless against threats they had been receiving to the point in which they are unable to work properly. Although the city of Lashkar Gah, where Noori was murdered, is somewhat secure the Taliban are able to move with considerable freedom.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/25/world/asia/former-times-translator-killed-in-afghanistan.html|title=Former Interpreter for The Times Is Killed in Afghanistan|date=25 January 2014|work=The New York Times}}</ref>



==Impact==
==Impact==
Noori was the first journalist to be murdered in five years, the last murder being BBC reporter Abdul Samad Rohani who was shot to death in Helmand in 2008. <ref>http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/afghan-reporter-tortured-killed-southern-province-helmand-article-1.1590320</ref> <ref>https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/24/afghanistan-journalist-dead-helmand-province</ref>
Noori was the first journalist to be murdered in five years, the last murder being BBC reporter Abdul Samad Rohani who was shot to death in Helmand in 2008<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/afghan-reporter-tortured-killed-southern-province-helmand-article-1.1590320|title=Afghan reporter tortured, killed in southern province of Helmand}}</ref><ref name="auto"/>

The same week Noori died, another journalist in Kabul was murdered whenever a suicide bomber attacked an Afghan army bus in Kabul on Sunday, killing four people and wounding up to 22, police said, the latest incident in a worrying surge of violence in the Afghan capital over the past 10 days. The Taliban quickly claimed responsibility for the attack. Among the victims of Sunday's attack was local radio journalist Shahid Naimi, according to police, who happened to be near the bus when the bomber blew himself up.<ref name=reuters>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/International/2014/Jan-26/245314-suicide-bomber-kills-four-in-kabul-attack-on-afghan-army-bus.ashx|title=Suicide bomber kills four in Kabul attack on Afghan army bus|first=Mirwais |last=Harooni|publisher=The Daily Star|date=January 26, 2014}}</ref>
The same week Noori died, another journalist in Kabul was murdered when a suicide bomber attacked an Afghan army bus in Kabul on Sunday, killing four people and wounding up to 22, police said, the latest incident in a worrying surge of violence in the Afghan capital over the past 10 days. The Taliban quickly claimed responsibility for the attack. Among the victims of Sunday's attack was local radio journalist Shahid Naimi, according to police, who happened to be near the bus when the bomber blew himself up.<ref name=reuters>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/International/2014/Jan-26/245314-suicide-bomber-kills-four-in-kabul-attack-on-afghan-army-bus.ashx|title=Suicide bomber kills four in Kabul attack on Afghan army bus|first=Mirwais |last=Harooni|publisher=The Daily Star (Lebanon)|date=January 26, 2014}}</ref>
Abdul Hadi Hamdard, another Afghan journalist, was killed by a roadside bomb in 2012, but it was unclear if he was the target of that attack.<ref name=upi>{{cite web|url=http://www.upi.com/Body-of-Afghan-journalist-found-burned-mutilated-in-Helmand-province/95291390598248/|title=Body of Afghan journalist found burned, mutilated in Helmand province|publisher=UPI.com|date=January 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name=upi>{{cite web|url=http://www.upi.com/Body-of-Afghan-journalist-found-burned-mutilated-in-Helmand-province/95291390598248/|title=Body of Afghan journalist found burned, mutilated in Helmand province|publisher=UPI|date=January 26, 2014}}</ref>

Abdul Hadi Hamdard, another Afghan journalist, was killed by a roadside bomb in 2012, but it was unclear if he was the target of that attack.<ref name=upi>{{cite web|url=http://www.upi.com/Body-of-Afghan-journalist-found-burned-mutilated-in-Helmand-province/95291390598248/|title=Body of Afghan journalist found burned, mutilated in Helmand province|publisher=UPI.com|date=January 24, 2014}}</ref>


==Reactions==
==Reactions==
[[Irina Bokova]], director-general of [[UNESCO]], said, "I condemn the killing of Noor Ahmad Noori and Ahmad Shahid,” the Director-General said. “I call on the authorities to spare no effort to improve the safety of journalists. Their work is indispensable to open debate, reconciliation and reconstruction."<ref name=UNESCO>{{cite web|url=http://en.unesco.org/news/director-general-voices-concern-media-safety-afghanistan-following-killing-reporters-noor-ahmad?language=en|title=Director-General voices concern for media safety in Afghanistan following killing of reporters Noor Ahmad Noori and Ahmad Shahid|publisher=UNESCO}}</ref>
[[Irina Bokova]], director-general of [[UNESCO]], said, "I condemn the killing of Noor Ahmad Noori and Ahmad Shahid. I call on the authorities to spare no effort to improve the safety of journalists. Their work is indispensable to open debate, reconciliation and reconstruction."<ref name=UNESCO>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/news/director-general-voices-concern-media-safety-afghanistan-following-killing-reporters-noor-ahmad?language=en|title=Director-General voices concern for media safety in Afghanistan following killing of reporters Noor Ahmad Noori and Ahmad Shahid|publisher=UNESCO}}</ref>


Danielle Rhodes, New York Times communications director, said, "We are looking into what happened. Our deepest sympathies go out..."<ref name=khaama />
Danielle Rhodes, the ''New York Times'' communications director, said, "We are looking into what happened. Our deepest sympathies go out..."<ref name=khaama />


Abdul Salam Passon, manager for Radio Bost, said, "He was a decent person and his programs caused no problems. His voice was known to everyone throughout the providence."<ref name=khaama /> Passon also said that Noori was threatened several times, but never elaborated by whom and why.<ref name=cpj />
Abdul Salam Passon, manager for Radio Bost, said, "He was a decent person and his programs caused no problems. His voice was known to everyone throughout the providence."<ref name=khaama /> Passon also said that Noori was threatened several times, but never elaborated by whom and why.<ref name=cpj />


A statement released by Reporters Without Borders said "We extend our condolences to Noori’s family and colleagues and we ask the Afghan government to ensure that the investigation promised by Helmand’s governor is effective and leads quickly to the identification of this murder’s perpetrators and instigators."<ref name=rsf />
A statement released by [[Reporters Without Borders]] said, "We extend our condolences to Noori's family and colleagues and we ask the Afghan government to ensure that the investigation promised by Helmand's governor is effective and leads quickly to the identification of this murder's perpetrators and instigators."<ref name=rsf />


==See also==
==See also==
* [[List of journalists killed during the War in Afghanistan (2001–14)]]
* [[List of journalists killed during the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)]]

==Temporary urls==
'''Sources used'''
*guardian<ref name="guardian"/>
*nydailynews<ref name=nydailynews/>
*khaama<ref name=khaama />
*nytimes<ref name= nytimes/>
*CPJ<ref name=cpj/>
*RSF<ref name=rsf/>
*upi
*Reuters
*UPI



== References ==
== References ==
<!--- See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes on how to create references using tags, these references will then appear here automatically -->
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{AfghanCorr|state=collapsed}}
== External links ==

* [http://www.example.com www.example.com]
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Noori, Noor Ahmed}}
<!--- Categories --->
<!--- Categories --->
[[Category:1985 births]]
[[Category:2014 deaths]]
[[Category:Assassinated Afghan journalists]]
[[Category:Afghan war correspondents]]

Latest revision as of 01:23, 11 March 2023

Noor Ahmed Noori
Bornca. 1985
DiedJanuary 23, 2014
Lashkar Gah, Helmand, Afghanistan
Cause of deathMurder by strangulation
Body discoveredIn a car salesman's yard
NationalityAfghan
Occupation(s)Journalist for radio and print
EmployerRadio Bost FM Helmand & New York Times
FamilyRasiullah, elder brother

Noor Ahmed Noori (ca. 1985 – January 23, 2014), often transliterated as Ahmad, was an Afghan radio journalist for Radio Bost FM station in Helmand province and for the New York Times. Noori worked as a translator from 2010 to 2013 and was killed in Afghanistan in 2014.[1][2] Noori was the first journalist to be killed in Helmand in five years.[3][4] Noori was also the first to be killed in a week that would be followed by several other killings in the Kabul area, including a suicide bombing the Taliban claimed responsibility for.[5]

Personal life

[edit]

Noor Ahmed Noori, 29 years old, was engaged to be married at the time he was murdered.[6] He lived outside of Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand Province which is fairly secure from the Taliban inside the city limits.[2] Noori could speak fluent English. He was well known and familiar with the local government officials including the civilians who were working with the United States military mission.[1]

Career

[edit]

Noori has worked with several different news organizations in Helmand province.[7] He worked as a translator at the New York Times from 2010 to 2013. Additionally, he has worked with several different NGO's and maintained a good reputation among his peers. Noori also established an institution called "Khybar", which focused on teaching English alongside computer skills. He worked at this institution for several years as a teacher. This decision to start teaching reportedly was made after he spent some time in neighboring country Pakistan, where he picked up the knowledge required for such a task. At the time of his death he was a producer for two religious programs at Radio Bost, called "Membar" and "Mehrab". Radio Bost was primarily known for reports on culture, religion, entertainment, and social issues. Ahmed Shah Passon, Noori's director at Radio Bost, said Noori had not reported on anything controversial or sensitive at Radio Bost.[7][8]

Death

[edit]
Afghanistan map
Kabul
Kabul
Lashkar Gah
Lashkar Gah
class=notpageimage|
Location of the place where they were killed in relation to the capital Kabul.

Noor Ahmed Noori's bloodied body was found in a sack at Lashkar Gah, where he lived.[2] Family members, including his brother, said that he had received threatening phone calls before his death.[7] Bost Radio manager said that he was being threatened by anti-government armed militant groups during the recent months. Before his body was discovered, Noori had been missing since 10 a.m. local time.[9] His body was found in a car salesman's yard. Abdul Ahad Coopan, the spokesperson for the provincial police chief said when the bag his body was in was found they believed it was a bomb before further investigating.[3] A forensic doctor at Lashkar Gah hospital had said that Noor Ahmed Noori had been tortured before being murdered. He was beaten and stabbed to death. His death was caused by at least two knife blows to the head and likely strangulation with a scarf.[2][10]

Context

[edit]

Helmand is one of the country's most dangerous regions for journalists. In Helmand a press conference was held, many journalists then stated that they felt powerless against threats they had been receiving to the point in which they are unable to work properly. Although the city of Lashkar Gah, where Noori was murdered, is somewhat secure the Taliban are able to move with considerable freedom.[11]

Impact

[edit]

Noori was the first journalist to be murdered in five years, the last murder being BBC reporter Abdul Samad Rohani who was shot to death in Helmand in 2008[12][4]

The same week Noori died, another journalist in Kabul was murdered when a suicide bomber attacked an Afghan army bus in Kabul on Sunday, killing four people and wounding up to 22, police said, the latest incident in a worrying surge of violence in the Afghan capital over the past 10 days. The Taliban quickly claimed responsibility for the attack. Among the victims of Sunday's attack was local radio journalist Shahid Naimi, according to police, who happened to be near the bus when the bomber blew himself up.[5]

Abdul Hadi Hamdard, another Afghan journalist, was killed by a roadside bomb in 2012, but it was unclear if he was the target of that attack.[13]

Reactions

[edit]

Irina Bokova, director-general of UNESCO, said, "I condemn the killing of Noor Ahmad Noori and Ahmad Shahid. I call on the authorities to spare no effort to improve the safety of journalists. Their work is indispensable to open debate, reconciliation and reconstruction."[14]

Danielle Rhodes, the New York Times communications director, said, "We are looking into what happened. Our deepest sympathies go out..."[9]

Abdul Salam Passon, manager for Radio Bost, said, "He was a decent person and his programs caused no problems. His voice was known to everyone throughout the providence."[9] Passon also said that Noori was threatened several times, but never elaborated by whom and why.[8]

A statement released by Reporters Without Borders said, "We extend our condolences to Noori's family and colleagues and we ask the Afghan government to ensure that the investigation promised by Helmand's governor is effective and leads quickly to the identification of this murder's perpetrators and instigators."[10]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Shah, Taimoor; Rubin, Alissa J. (January 25, 2014). "Former Interpreter for The Times Is Killed in Afghanistan". The New York Times.
  2. ^ a b c d Amiri, Mokhtar (January 24, 2014). "Afghan journalist Noor Ahmed Noori found dead in Helmand province". The Guardian (UK).
  3. ^ a b "Body of Afghan journalist found burned, mutilated in Helmand province".
  4. ^ a b Amiri, Mokhtar (24 January 2014). "Afghan journalist Noor Ahmed Noori found dead in Helmand province" – via The Guardian.
  5. ^ a b Harooni, Mirwais (January 26, 2014). "Suicide bomber kills four in Kabul attack on Afghan army bus". The Daily Star (Lebanon).
  6. ^ "Journalists increasingly under attack". RAWA News. March 29, 2014.
  7. ^ a b c Hastings, Deborah (January 24, 2014). "Afghan reporter tortured, killed in southern province of Helmand". New York Daily News.
  8. ^ a b "Noor Ahmad Noori – Journalists Killed". Committee to Protect Journalists. January 23, 2014.
  9. ^ a b c Ghanizada (January 24, 2014). "Militants kill New York Times local correpondent in Helmand". Khaama Press (KP), Afghan News Agency.
  10. ^ a b "Young radio journalist tortured and killed in Helmand". Reporters Without Borders. January 24, 2014.
  11. ^ "Former Interpreter for The Times Is Killed in Afghanistan". The New York Times. 25 January 2014.
  12. ^ "Afghan reporter tortured, killed in southern province of Helmand".
  13. ^ "Body of Afghan journalist found burned, mutilated in Helmand province". UPI.com. January 24, 2014.
  14. ^ "Director-General voices concern for media safety in Afghanistan following killing of reporters Noor Ahmad Noori and Ahmad Shahid". UNESCO.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Noor_Ahmed_Noori&oldid=1143970238"