On the International Day for Universal Access to Information, Nai, a group that supports open media in Afghanistan, released figures showing a 32 percent rise in journalists� lack of access to information in the nation.

This organization said that the lack of a media law has reduced the media�s and media workers� access to information, and that the Islamic Emirate should pay attention to this issue.

"Previously, over 55% of access to information in Afghanistan was restricted, but the data and statistics we gathered show a 32% increase compared to the Republic period," said Mohammad Zarif Karimi, head of NAI.

In the meantime, some organizations supporting the media also accepted that in the absence of the right to access information law, the challenges of journalists have increased in Afghanistan.

"Our findings in the current situation show that the provision of information in Afghanistan has serious problems in the absence of the law on the right to access information," said Masroor Lutfi, head of Afghanistan�s National Journalists Union.

Some journalists said that they face many challenges due to the lack of access to information.

"Afghan journalists have been facing many problems for the past two years. There are some spokesmen who do not show up and provide information to the journalists on time," said Shah Agha Sadat, a journalist.

However, the Ministry of Information and Culture said that the new media law has been sent to the leader of the Islamic Emirate for approval.

The Deputy Minister of Information and Culture, Hayatullah Mujajir Farahi, stressed that access to information is the right of journalists.

"All the spokespersons of the Islamic Emirate institutions are required to give the media the necessary information about their functions within their scope of work," Farahi noted.

According to figures of institutions that support the media, about 70 percent of journalists and media staff have lost their jobs and more than half of Afghanistan�s media outlets have been shut down as a result of recent events.

LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/28584

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