As Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi visits India, the Danish Siddiqui Foundation has reiterated its demand for justice regarding the killing of Pulitzer Prize-winning Indian photojournalist Danish Siddiqui. Siddiqui was fatally shot in Afghanistan in July 2021 while covering the conflict, and the foundation claims he was “captured, tortured, and killed.”
In a statement issued on Saturday, the foundation called on the Indian government to pursue justice through the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the United Nations Human Rights Council’s accountability mechanisms. In March 2022, Siddiqui’s parents formally complained to the ICC, naming senior Taliban figures, including Mullah Hasan Akhund, Abdul Ghani Baradar, and Zabiullah Mujahid, whom they hold responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity in relation to his death.
The foundation’s statement highlighted the ongoing opportunity to remind the Taliban of its obligations under international humanitarian law and to encourage cooperation with independent investigations into Siddiqui’s killing.
Siddiqui was on assignment in Kandahar when he was reportedly killed amid clashes between Afghan forces and the Taliban. Embedded with Afghan special forces near the Pakistan border, he sustained injuries from shrapnel during firefights with the Taliban.
Independent investigations and forensic evaluations reported by press freedom groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), have indicated signs of torture and mutilation on Siddiqui’s body after death, allegations that the Taliban has denied.
His death sparked international outcry and calls for accountability from various media and human rights organizations.
Siddiqui was renowned for his significant work, having won the Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for his coverage of the Rohingya refugee crisis and posthumously receiving the Pulitzer in 2022 for his reporting on COVID-19 in India. He is considered one of the most internationally recognized Indian journalists.
The Danish Siddiqui Foundation’s renewed push for justice coincides with high-profile diplomatic discussions, marking a poignant moment for press freedom advocates.
Tags: Danish Siddiqui, journalist killing, Taliban minister, India, press freedom
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