Challenges faced by journalists in Afghanistan were shown at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

2 October 2018 - Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (Kazakhstan), a member institution of the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI), recently organized a photo exhibition entitled Journalism in Afghanistan and a special event dedicated to the memory of a graduate from the Class of 2015, Said Samim Faramarza, who during his studies at this institution of higher education was an enthusiast of Model United Nations initiatives and later became a talented professional and a journalist working for the TOLOnews television channel in Kabul (Afghanistan). 

He died on 5 September 2018 while performing official duties along with his colleague Razim Ahmadi and numerous civilians in an explosion that took place in the Afghan capital. Regarding the attack in which 22 civilians were killed, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan expressed its deep concern over the heavy price paid by Afghan media, with the killing of journalists in Afghanistan being among the highest in the world. Several non governmental organizations issued statement regretting what happened with those media professionals.

The memorial evening and exhibition invited visitors to get acquainted with photographs of Rafis Abazov about the challenges of working in journalism in Afghanistan facing today's realities. The exhibition familiarized the participants with the motivation that inspires the modern youth of Afghanistan to engage in journalism for the benefit of their own country. Guests and organizers who spoke at the memorial evening stressed that it is the work of journalists that helps to exchange experiences and develop dialogue at the international level.

According to them, journalists also help to promote the development and strengthening of international cooperation between Kazakhstan and Afghanistan. Among the participants in the event were faculty and officers of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and of the Ban Ki-moon Institute for Sustainable Development, as well as members of the Embassy of Afghanistan and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Afghanistan, and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and of the United Nations.