Noor Ahmed Noori

Noor Ahmed Noori (ca. 1985 – January 23, 2014), often transliterated as Ahmad, was an Afghan radio journalist for Radio Bost FM station in Helmand province and for the New York Times. Noori worked as a translator from 2010 to 2013 and was killed in Afghanistan in 2014. Noori was the first journalist to be killed in Helmand in five years. Noori was also the first to be killed in a week that would be followed by several other killings in the Kabul area, including a suicide bombing the Taliban claimed responsibility for. He lived outside of Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand Province which is fairly secure from the Taliban inside the city limits. He worked as a translator at the New York Times from 2010 to 2013. Additionally, he has worked with several different NGO's and maintained a good reputation among his peers. Noori also established an institution called "Khybar", which focused on teaching English alongside computer skills. He worked at this institution for several years as a teacher. This decision to start teaching reportedly was made after he spent some time in neighboring country Pakistan, where he picked up the knowledge required for such a task. At the time of his death he was a producer for two religious programs at Radio Bost, called "Membar" and "Mehrab". Radio Bost was primarily known for reports on culture, religion, entertainment, and social issues. Ahmed Shah Passon, Noori's director at Radio Bost, said Noori had not reported on anything controversial or sensitive at Radio Bost.

Death Noor Ahmed Noori's bloodied body was found in a sack at Lashkar Gah, where he lived. His body was found in a car salesman's yard. Abdul Ahad Coopan, the spokesperson for the provincial police chief said when the bag his body was in was found they believed it was a bomb before further investigating.

Context Helmand is one of the country's most dangerous regions for journalists. In Helmand a press conference was held, many journalists then stated that they felt powerless against threats they had been receiving to the point in which they are unable to work properly. Although the city of Lashkar Gah, where Noori was murdered, is somewhat secure the Taliban are able to move with considerable freedom.

Impact Noori was the first journalist to be murdered in five years, the last murder being BBC reporter Abdul Samad Rohani who was shot to death in Helmand in 2008

Abdul Hadi Hamdard, another Afghan journalist, was killed by a roadside bomb in 2012, but it was unclear if he was the target of that attack.

Reactions Irina Bokova, director-general of UNESCO, said, "I condemn the killing of Noor Ahmad Noori and Ahmad Shahid. I call on the authorities to spare no effort to improve the safety of journalists. Their work is indispensable to open debate, reconciliation and reconstruction."

Danielle Rhodes, the New York Times communications director, said, "We are looking into what happened. Our deepest sympathies go out..."

Abdul Salam Passon, manager for Radio Bost, said, "He was a decent person and his programs caused no problems. His voice was known to everyone throughout the providence." Passon also said that Noori was threatened several times, but never elaborated by whom and why.

A statement released by Reporters Without Borders said, "We extend our condolences to Noori's family and colleagues and we ask the Afghan government to ensure that the investigation promised by Helmand's governor is effective and leads quickly to the identification of this murder's perpetrators and instigators."