Acid Attack on Senior Afghan Journalist in Kabul

The renown Afghan Journalist and host of political talk shows on Afghanistan’s popular TV Channel Tolo TV, Razzaq Maamoon was attacked near his home in Kabul. The unknown assailants sprayed acid on his face. He was immediately shifted to Kabul’s Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan Hospital formerly known as Shifa Khany Charsad Bestar (400 Bed Hospital).

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Doctors reported that his eyes have received no potential injuries as he was wearing glasses at the time of the unfortunate incident; however, his face has received numerous deep wounds.

It’s not yet known who the attackers were. Razzaq Maamoon has reiterated that the attack on him was because of his journalism.

Maamoon Razzaq served BBC News for more than a decade before joining Radio Azadi, the Afghan Radio Freedom, and later the private TV Channel, Tolo TV.

Maamoon Razzaq has been critical of forces behind the scene and the Pakistani and Iranian regimes. He has written three books so far dealing with the mysteries surrounding the murder of Dr. Najeebullah, former Afghan President, by the former Taliban regime, the murder of Afghanistan’s sensational singing idol Ahmad Zahir, and the murder of Farooq Yaqoobi, the former Information Minister.

In his books he has openly accused individuals with shadowy backgrounds who are still serving at high ranking positions in the Afghan government, linking them to former regimes and the Taliban fundamentalists.

Afghanistan has been one of the most dangerous spots for journalists for the last four decades. Afghan journalists have come up with a rare show of bravery in all these circumstances and they have paid the price too. This incident is a sharp reminder of how vulnerable the journalist communities are in Afghanistan though the international forces have a magnanimous presence here.