Lyse Doucet still in Kabul

[everythingthelighttouches]

I know she regularly reports from dangerous places but am I the only person to be surprised that Lyse Doucet is still in Kabul? How on Earth will she get out? She must be a target for ISIS?

More details on the restrictions that journalists are having to report under are here (article dated 24th August)

rsf.org/en/news/new-unofficial-oppressive-rules-imposed-journalists-afghanistan
New (unofficial) oppressive rules imposed on journalists in Afghanistan

It talks mainly about what is happening to Afghan journalists but it says this about foreign correspondents:

Foreign correspondents still in Kabul have not yet been subjected to these dictates and are managing to work in an almost normal manner. But for how much longer? The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s Youth and Information Department issued this message to foreign journalists on 21 August: “Before going into the field and recording interviews with IEA fighters and the local population, they should coordinate with the IEA or otherwise face arrest.”

“There are no clear rules at the moment and we have no idea what will happen in the future,” said a Swiss freelancer who has stayed in Kabul. Another foreign reporter said: “The honeymoon is not yet over. We are benefitting from the fact that the Taliban are still seeking some legitimacy, and the arrival of the big international TV stations in the past few days is protecting us. The real problems will start when we are on our own again.”

So they have to have permission / authorisation (and probably an escort) to do interviews.

At least 1,059 journalists have been murdered in the past ten years, and 387 were arbitrarily detained at the end of 2020, according to RSF. The rate of impunity for crimes of violence against journalists is still around 90%.

Being a journalist is a dangerous occupation that can get you killed or imprisoned.

@Watapalava

Hmmm not sure on this

Surely she will at some point put other lives at risk who try to get her out etc

Yes her life and those helping her will be at risk. But the lives at risk if we turn away from what is happening in Afghanistan is huge. Lyse obviously feels reporting, shining a light on the lives of Afghan nationals and their plight is worthy of the risk. I for one have the upmost respect for journalism like this and the journalists who risk life and limb to tell the story.

I don't think she is brave, just selfish and arrogant. I hope no soldiers are going to be expected to risk their lives getting her out.

@PicsInRed

I think about John Cantlie pretty much every week, I really, really hope that some day we are able to find out what happened to him.

Lyse is a co founder and mentor of the Marie Colvin Journalists' Network supporting female Arab journalists.

mariecolvinnetwork.org/en/home-page/about-us/project-team/

Being a journalist is a dangerous occupation that can get you killed or imprisoned.

@RedToothBrush depends what type of journalist. I shouldn’t think the journalists working on lifestyle magazines live in fear of their lives. War correspondents are a whole different matter though!

@1jan2020

Being a journalist is a dangerous occupation that can get you killed or imprisoned.

@RedToothBrush depends what type of journalist. I shouldn’t think the journalists working on lifestyle magazines live in fear of their lives. War correspondents are a whole different matter though!

You'd be surprised.

Its not just war correspondents who are at risk. In an authoritian country with certain cultural expectations, even lifestyle reporters can be at risk.

Drugs and crime reporting is also extremely dangerous. That can include stuff like bribes, money laundering which isn't inherently thought of as violent too. Merely being critical of government can get you killed or imprisoned.

rsf.org/en/news/rsfs-2020-round-50-journalists-killed-two-thirds-countries-peace
RSF’s 2020 Round-up: 50 journalists killed, two-thirds in countries “at peace”

www.statista.com/statistics/266229/number-of-journalists-killed-since-1995/
The most dangerous country in the world for journalists is Mexico, where eight journalists were killed in 2020. Journalists in Mexico are frequently placed under surveillance, threatened, and fatally punished for attempting to expose or publicize political corruption, and despite the country being war-free, an average of eight to ten journalists are murdered in the country each year.

Journalists arrested and imprisoned
Journalists are at risk of being captured and detained as punishment for criticizing a political regime or a religious ideology, persecuted for insulting those in positions of power, hunted down for images they published, and shot dead simply because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. The yearly number of imprisoned journalists regularly surpasses 250 worldwide, and arrests and kidnappings are also common. Between 2014 and 2019, almost 1,500 journalists were arrested and close to 400 were kidnapped, highlighting the harsh reality for many media workers around the world.

@everythingthelighttouches

But how is she going to get out? Kabul airport is now unmanned, there is no air traffic control. Sorry, it’s just something I don’t know anything about at all so I can’t imagine how it is going to be done.

er, via Pakistan?

People really need to read up on basic geography and journalism in the area.

er, via Pakistan?

@phishy Do you really think it’s that easy just to get out via Pakistan? It sounds like it’s you who needs to read up on the current situation at the border there.

Did I say it was was easy? Pakistan has been and will continue to be a route into and out of Afghanistan, albeit with its own dangers.

From Pakistan ministry 10 days ago:

"In a tweet, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that the Pakistan press section in Kabul had received hundreds of visa applications from the international media. Chaudhry said to facilitate their evacuation from Kabul, a special cell had been created"

There are aid workers and journalists still in the country. They have decided to stay to do their job. Some will have had specific threats but they are usually advised to leave which was the case with the Sky reporter.

The Taliban, UN and Turkey are negotiating for the later to take over the running of the airport. There’s no indication that the Taliban want to create a closed state.

The journalists still there will be protected by the Taliban, keen to prove to the world that they are now moderate, reasonable people.

@1jan2020

Being a journalist is a dangerous occupation that can get you killed or imprisoned.

@RedToothBrush depends what type of journalist. I shouldn’t think the journalists working on lifestyle magazines live in fear of their lives. War correspondents are a whole different matter though!

I work in the bog standard regional press covering court and crime. I’ve had my life threatened twice in the past two years, once by someone who sent a letter to my home address threatening to set fire to my house. I’m regularly screamed at in the street when leaving court and take an absolutely abhorrent amount of abuse on FB every day.

My experience is nothing compared to that of Lyse or her contemporaries but to suggest she’s selfish is laughable. She knows the power of her journalism and the difference it’ll make to the fate of so many Afghans.

@sleepygnome

I don't think she is brave, just selfish and arrogant. I hope no soldiers are going to be expected to risk their lives getting her out.

That's a very sad attitude. Without the bravery of a free press we wouldn't have any comprehension of world affairs. She's a bloody heroine and I think we should be giving her the utmost respect.

@Yesitsbess

She's 62. 62! I'm 20 years her junior and not even dressed yet!

Thanks to whoever linked the NS article, a good read.

I don't understand why you're surprised that a woman several years under state retirement age is able to do a demanding job.

@lllllllllll

er, via Pakistan?

@phishy Do you really think it’s that easy just to get out via Pakistan? It sounds like it’s you who needs to read up on the current situation at the border there.

Apparently it’s not difficult. The Pakistan border is described as “porous”.

War journalists are my personal heroes. I'm in absolute awe of them.

Stuff sports stars or celebrities. I'm much more interested in what these guys have to say about humanity or lack of it.

Just googled her and she has Micmac ancestry.

we've been wondering exactly the same thing

Full of admiration for her but I don't want our news at the expense of her safety.

Another inspirational female journalist to mention in this thread , Sarah Rainsford. Just been kicked out of Russia. She’s been reporting there pretty fearlessly for 20 years.
She also spent time reporting in Afghanistan

@JayAlfredPrufrock

Just googled her and she has Micmac ancestry.

Miꞌkmaq you mean?

Lol. I went back and checked Wiki for the spelling as I knew someone would come along and piss on my chips.

..