| IJNetwork and Stanford's IHRC Mourn the Killing of Jawed "Jojo" Ahmad |
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March 10, 2008, New York, NY -- It is with great sorrow that the International Justice Network (IJNetwork) and Stanford Law School's International Human Rights Clinic report the death of our client, Jawed "Jojo" Ahmad. Like everyone who came to know Jojo, the attorneys, staff, and volunteers at Stanford's Mills Legal Clinic and IJNetwork deeply mourn the passing of this talented, dedicated, courageous, and kind young journalist.
Jawed Ahmad, a 23-year-old Canadian Television (CTV) journalist and
interpreter, was shot and killed today in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Ahmad
gained notoriety while working for CTV in the most dangerous areas of
Afghanistan. In October 2007, he was arrested and wrongfully accused by
U.S. forces of being an "enemy combatant." Ahmad was then held in
military custody at the detention facility at the United States Air
Base in Bagram, Afghanistan for 11 months without access to a lawyer.
While imprisoned, Ahmad was tortured and suffered broken ribs and other
injuries, but like so many victims of the illegal and inhumane
detention policies of the U.S., he was never charged with any crime nor
given any opportunity to present the definitive evidence of his
innocence. As a result of the advocacy of the International Justice
Network and Stanford's International Human Rights Clinic, Jojo was
released on September 21, 2008 after almost a year of being held in
U.S. custody.
Despite repeated threats to his safety by insurgents, Ahmad continued to help the Canadian media cover the conflict in Afghanistan upon his release. He also committed himself to shedding light on the suffering of others in Bagram, seeing justice served, and clearing his name. Tina Foster, Executive Director of the International Justice Network, said "I am deeply saddened to report that Jawed 'Jojo' Ahmad was killed today in Kandahar. This is obviously an extremely difficult time for us, and we thank those of you who have been in touch to offer your support. Because we have not yet had an opportunity to process this news, we are not in a position to offer any further details or comments at this time. We ask for your patience as we take this time to grieve. Jojo was not only our client, but also a respected ally to our organization and a brave, dedicated journalist."
Barbara Olshansky, IJN Litigation Director and Stanford Human Rights Law Professor, added that "Jojo's death should compel all who have stood in the way of examining U.S. policies in Afghanistan to make way for the investigation that has been needed for 8 years. We are all responsible for the death of a brave young man who worked for the U.S. and Canada in Afghanistan and paid the ultimate price for his heroism. If we are to rectify the terrible mistakes of past policies, we must start with a search for the truth and an accounting of the actions of those who were in charge." Kathleen Kelly, Teaching Fellow at Stanford, noted that "Jojo risked his life every day to bring the world news about the conditions in Afghanistan. He believed in participating in the struggle for freedom and democracy despite the harsh treatment that he suffered at the hands of the U.S. Military."
Upon his release in 2008 Jawed Ahmad declared, "I am free from hell and today is my victory. After 11 months of being held in cell that was a like a grave, I want to tell the world the story of my detention and I hope that the stories of others held at Bagram will also see the light of day." |
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