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March 11, 2009

Afghan Journalist Once Jailed by US Slain in Kandahar
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An Afghan journalist once jailed by the US military has died in
Afghanistan. Twenty-three-year-old Jawed “Jo Jo” Ahmad was shot and
killed while reporting in Kandahar. Ahmad’s death comes less than six
months after his release from US military imprisonment after nearly a
year of being held without charge. He was working as a videographer for
the Canadian television network CTV when US forces jailed him in October
2007. He later revealed US soldiers broke two of his ribs, deprived him
of sleep and held him in a grave-like cell during his captivity. After
his release, Ahmad said he wanted to tell his story and help other
prisoners abused at the US-run Bagram prison where he was held. In a
statement, law professor Barbara Olshansky of International Justice
Networks said, “’s death should compel all who have stood in the way of
examining US policies in Afghanistan to make way for the investigation
that has been needed for eight years. We are all responsible for the
death of a brave young man who worked for the US and Canada in
Afghanistan and paid the ultimate price for his heroism.”



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