#Islamic State claims responsibility for killing journalist

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the shooting death of a female Afghan reporter and activist Thursday morning — marking the latest attack on journalists in the country.

Malalai Maiwand, 25, a reporter at Enikas Radio and TV, was with her driver on her way to work in Jalalabad, the capital of the eastern Nangarhar province in Afghanistan, when gunmen attacked their vehicle and opened fire at them, CNN reported.

Reuters first reported the Islamic State claimed it was responsible for murdering Maiwand, who militants called a “pro regime” journalist.

Militants have also targeted Maiwand’s mother, who was an activist, and killed her five years ago. They have also kidnapped Enikas’ owner and held him hostage for ransom in 2018, Reuters reported.

“With the killing of Malalai, the working field for female journalists is getting more smaller and the journalists may not dare to continue their jobs the way they were doing before,” Nai, an advocacy group that supports Afghan media, said in a statement.

Maiwand’s murder raised the death toll of journalists killed in Afghanistan to 10, according to the outlet.

The Afghan government, German embassy, and the British ambassador to Afghanistan have all condemned the attack.

“We join in expressing our condolences and condemnation of the murders of journalist Malalai Maiwand and her driver this morning,” tweeted British ambassador Alison Blake. “We must unite to uphold #PressFreedom, their deaths must be investigated and their killers face justice for this wicked act.”