Five journalists who are escaping repression in Afghanistan will find asylum in Kosovo, according to a government announcement made on the 28th of December. When the situation on the ground permits it, journalists will be given lodging, a monthly wage, health insurance, and a return ticket.
In collaboration with the European Federation of Journalists, the initiative will be incorporated into the ECPMF’s Journalist program in Kosovo (EFJ). As a partner in implementation, the organizations work together with the Kosovo Journalists Association (AJK).
“We appreciate this decision of the Government of Kosovo, which once again lends assistance to journalists who are punished simply for performing their work,” ECPMF senior legal counsel Flutura Kusari said following the news. From our established JiR initiatives in Leipzig and Kosovo to media workers in crises.” We understand how crucial assistance with relocating is. We are also thankful to the German government for their significant assistance and the chance to make this offer to Afghan journalists.”
“We are extremely thankful to the Kosovo government for their amazing feeling of solidarity with suffering journalists all around the world,” EFJ Secretary General Ricardo Gutiérrez stated.
I wish to commend the European journalist groups, especially our AJK affiliates, for their tenacious support of our exiled Afghan and Ukrainian colleagues. The only way to combat those who wish to undermine journalism is through unity.
We are thrilled that our Afghan colleagues will soon be allowed to call Kosovo home, said Xhemajl Rexha, the AJK board’s chairman. This will enable us to expand our existing excellent collaboration with the EFJ, ECPMF, and the Government of Kosovo in order to work with journalists whose work has been made difficult by the warlike conditions in their home countries through the “Residential Journalists – Kosovo” initiative. At AJK, we are prepared to do all in our power to support our Afghan colleagues’ work as Kosovar journalists in a secure setting.
For further information: https://europeanjournalists.org/blog/2022/12/28/kosovo-ecpmf-and-efj-welcome-new-support-for-afghan-journalists/