Afghan Biographies

Nekzad, Rahmatullah Naikzad


Name Nekzad, Rahmatullah Naikzad
Ethnic backgr. Pashtun
Date of birth
Function/Grade Al-Jazeera TV and Associated Press (AP) Reporter Journalist
History and Biodata

3. Biodata:
Rahmatullah Nekzad, a reporter / stringer based in Ghaznis City, Ghazni Province, said journalists in the province were under severe pressure from both the government and the insurgents. “Until recently the situation of journalists in Ghazni was relatively good,” he said. “But now they are in trouble both with the Taleban and the police. Journalists are afraid, but we still have to cover the elections somehow.” (20090818).

Naikzad came under scrutiny before, in July 2008, when he was a witness to a Taliban execution of two women and was held for two days of questioning by Afghan authorities. He said at the time that the Taliban summoned him to attend the trial of a man and several women accused of various crimes. He said he did not know it would result in an execution. His pictures included one of the two burqa-clad women in Ghazni Province sitting next to each other a few minutes before their executions. Another photo showed their bodies the following morning, when Naikzad returned to the scene.

Rahmatullah Nekzad, who is working for the Al-Jazeera Television channel and Associated Press (AP), was arrested by a joint Afghan ISAF assault force in Ghazni City, the provincial capital, late Sunday night (20100919). The provincial police chief, Col. Zarawar Zahid, told Pajhwok Afghan News he had no idea where the reporter had been taken. Police were making efforts to get him released as soon as possible, he added. Abdullah Rahmani, a brother of Nekzad, accused the foreign forces of roughing up his brother, who often criticised the international troops for using heavy-handed tactics during operations.

Nekzad's house is located in the Pakhtunabad area on the outskirts of Ghazni City, two kilometres from the NATO military centre, jointly manned by American and Polish troops. The Coalition confirmed the release of Nekzad saying he had been detained after intelligence linked him to Taliban propaganda networks. (20100924).

Last Modified 2011-04-29
Established 2010-09-20