Dawa Khan Menapal | |
---|---|
Died | 6 August 2021
Kabul |
Alma mater |
Dawa Khan Menapal (died 6 August 2021; sometimes written Meenapal, Minapal or Mina Pal) was the director of the Afghanistan government's media and information centre, and worked as a spokesman for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. [1] [2] He had previously been a journalist for Radio Azadi (formerly Radio Free Afghanistan). [3]
Menapal obtained a degree in Law and Political Science at Kabul University. [4]
In 2008 he was kidnapped by the Taliban on the Kabul- Kandahar highway, but released three days later after protests by tribal leaders who respected his journalism as balanced and fair. [3] [5] In 2009, he was assaulted by Afghan police. [3]
He won the David Burke Award for Distinguished Journalism in 2010, "for his professionalism in reporting from Kandahar, Afghanistan, despite harassment by government authorities and militants." [3]
On 6 August 2021 he was assassinated by the Taliban, during their retaking of the country. [1] A Taliban spokesman said he had been "punished for his deeds". [2] He was attacked by gunmen on Darul Aman Road in Kabul while going to Friday prayers. [1] [2]