Afghan journalist Elyas Da’ee was killed in southern Helmand province when a bomb attached to his car exploded. Prior to his death, Da’ee, a reporter with 'Radio Azadi', had reportedly received threats from the Taliban.
This statement was originally published on afjc.af on 12 November 2020.
Lashkargah, Helmand- Afghan journalist Elyas Da’ee was killed in southern Helmand province when a bomb attached to his car exploded early Thursday, a provincial official said.
Omar Zwak, the spokesman for the Helmand provincial governor, told the AFJC that Da’ee was driving to his work from home in Lashkargah, the provincial capital, when a bomb that was attached to his vehicle detonated, killing the journalist. According to Zwak, three others were wounded in the attack, including Da’ee’s brother, Mojtaba Mohammadi, a former DW reporter, a child, and another man.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombing.
Prior to his death, Da’ee, 33, a reporter with the US-funded Radio Liberty network, known locally as Radio Azadi, had received threats from the Taliban for his work in recent months, according to the AFJC source.
“My colleague and dear friend, Elyas Da’ee, lost his life in a terrorist attack this morning,” Sami Mahdi, Radio Azadi bureau chief, wrote on Twitter.
“He was a gentleman. Always had a signature smile. This is terrible news. Elyas, you will be remembered dearly,” Mahdi wrote.
Afghan presidential spokesman Sediq Sediqqi condemned Da’ee’s “assassination,” saying “While we convey our deepest sympathies to his family and Afghan media, there is no doubt that the enemies of our media are behind this heinous act of terror.”
“We deeply saddened and strongly condemn this vicious attack and extend our deepest condolences to Da’ee’s family and his colleagues in Helmand and Azadi Radio,” said AFJC’s executive director Ahmad Quraishi, “We demand swift action from the Afghan authorities to arrest and punish the perpetrators.”
Da’ee’s death comes just days after former ToloNew presenter Yama Siawash and two other civilians were killed in a similar bomb attack in the Afghan capital, Kabul.
