Afghan media groups decry rise in violence against journalists

Afghans take part in a burial ceremony of Afghan journalist Zabihullah Tamanna, in Kabul, Afghanistan June 7, 2016. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani

Kabul (Reuters) - Violence and intimidation against journalists in Afghanistan has spiked sharply this month, with much of it coming from government security forces, the main journalists' right groups said on Tuesday.

In addition to the deaths of two journalists working for the U.S. National Public Radio, who were killed in the southern province of Helmand, numerous cases of beating and intimidation were reported to the Kabul Press Club and Afghan Independent Journalist Association (AIJA).