Afghanistan: TV music show presenter seeks asylum in Sweden

"Stop presenting that music or you will be killed!" ... 22-year-old Afghan music tv presenter Shakeb Isaar has fled his country after receiving death threats. His colleague was shot dead in Kabul.

In May 2005, 24-year-old TV presenter Shaima Rezayee was shot in Kabul. The killing was linked to her presenting of the music show ‘Hop’ on Tulo TV which features Western music videos and singers from India, Iran and Turkey.
Since then, her partner and colleague, 22-year-old Shakeb Isaar, holed up at the Tolo television station, fearing for his own life. He received death threats which were all the more chilling in light of the fact that his co-presenter was murdered.
In July 2005, Shakeb Isaar fled to Sweden where he now seeks asylum. As a VJ (Video Jockey), he is not eligible for the assistance program of the Committee to Protect Journalists. He has had to rely on help from friends.

Shakeb Isaar's background

The threats
Since Shakeb Isaar started to work at Tolo TV, he received threats, harassments and humiliations from extremist groups, Taliban other Islamic extremists, as well as from police and secret security agents who claimed to be helping the government.
In a letter, Shakeb writes:
"As a human being you should be able to enjoy your human rights and social rights in the society that you are working in. Unfortunately, due to a lot of resentment, I have been deprived of such rights. I have been through a lot of hardships during the Taliban regime but I do not feel safe in Afghanistan anymore. It is getting worse than the war time. I have been beaten several times by the local police and unidentified people. I was injured and received death threats. A few weeks ago in a planned car accident I was severely injured and my car was destroyed. After that I was attacked by some men trying to stab me and I got bad cuts in my hand. I was accused of being pagan by some Islamic extremists."
"I stopped going to the University to continue my education because I was humiliated by some of the professors. For example, in some families, when any female members of the family praised my programmes, they faced harsh reactions by the head of the family who are men. These men even beat their family members for supporting my programmes, and turned off the TV. These men have started harming me whenever they see me. I have also received death threats through internet, letters and telephone calls. Although freedom of speech and democracy is advertised in the government and the new constitution, it is not enforced."
"I am afraid for my life and my family’s safety. Tolo TV cannot take responsibility for my security outside of their office. I cannot walk freely like a normal person in the city, cannot go to the city markets and recreation sites. I feel like a prisoner at this young age who cannot explore life. I have even gotten death threats at the University. I cannot go my classes regularly."
"Therefore, I want to live in a peaceful environment in another country to be able to enjoy my human rights to the fullest and continue my education. I have let the Independent Human Rights Commission know about this issue but they have not been able to do anything. I have met with the Youth Minister of Afghanistan. She could not help me either. I am lost and cannot even have a good night’s sleep because I fear that I can be attacked at any time. I need help to get out of Afghanistan before they kill me."


List of assaults, infringements and threats

Below follows a list - written by his friends who are trying to protect him - with details of how Shakeb Isaar has been intimidated and attacked over the last two months:

• While getting a hair cut Shakeb is attacked by an individual wielding a knife. Trying to protect his stomach Shakeb’s hand is severely cut requiring over 12 stitches.

• Eight individuals attack Shakeb outside his residence (at Taimani) managing to slap him across the face in front of his friend’s vehicle. His attackers are local ‘Panjsheris’.

• One of Tolo’s vehicles (that usually drives Shakeb to and from work) is stopped by armed civilians. As Shakeb is not in the vehicle they let the Toyota Surf go. They do, however, ask the driver specifically for him.

• A Tolo vehicle – while taking Shakeb home – is stopped by the local police offers at Khwaja Bara (in between Khair Khana and Taimani). Police search the car and then abuse him for ‘talking too much’ (during his programmes).

• A Tolo vehicle – while taking Shakeb home – is stopped by the local police officers at Qalae Fatullah. A police officer then asks him ‘what should I do with you’ before proceeding to kick him (implying that Shakeb is a problem to be dealt with).

• A Tolo vehicle - while taking Shakeb home – is stopped at Taimani and on this occasion Shakeb is asked to ‘sing’ for the police officers.

• Shakeb's vehicle – with Shakeb not on board – is stopped at Deboori/Karte 3 by a Townace which swerved in front of the Tolo vehicle. The occupants then ask for Shakeb before leaving the scene. They are armed civilians.

• Shakeb recieves information that up to 15 individuals are planning to teach Shakeb a lesson at Wazir Akbar Khan (Street 15, near Sherpoor). Shakeb’s vehicle is instructed to take a different route.

• Shakeb has rocks hurled at his house quite regularly.

• Hoodlums cause 45,000 Afs worth of damage to his mother’s vehicle.

• Intelligence officers (from the 10 Directorate) stop his car (while he is travelling with two Australian journalists) opposite the Ministry of Youth and then threaten him over the way he presents his show.

• Security staff at the Presidential Palace indicate to Sayed Sulaiman Ashna (Pashto anchor) that they may take the liberty of punishing Shakeb for his antics.

• Other Tolo/Arman journalists have also received threats – relating directly to Shakeb.

• Baba Jan’s bodyguards threaten Shakeb over a 6.30 Report (current affairs program) which was critical of the former Kabul security chief (Shakeb has no involvement with the 6.30 Report).

• Shakeb is mugged near his house by assailants. A neighbour helps out before the assailants flee with his ID card and some cash.

• Shakeb is expelled from Kabul University (Faculty of Journalism) because of his ‘attitude’ at Tolo.

• While driving in a colleague’s vehicle he is ‘cut off’ by another car and is forced to smash into a tree.