Afghanistan Bars NYT Reporter From Leaving Country

Afghanistan’s attorney general has barred a New York Times correspondent from leaving the country because of a story in which he reported that a group of officials were considering seizing power because of the impasse over who won the recent presidential election, a spokesman said Tuesday.

Basir Azizi, a spokesman for the attorney general, said Matthew Rosenberg’s Aug. 18 story was “against the law and national interests of Afghanistan.” Azizi said Rosenberg was asked to come to the attorney general’s office on Wednesday with his lawyer.

The head of the Kabul International Airport confirmed the attorney general sent a letter saying Rosenberg couldn’t leave the country. “We are implementing that order,” Agh Nawaz Ahaqyar said.

The New York Times story said some officials with ties to the security forces were “threatening to seize power.”

Rosenberg, 40, told The Associated Press that he was called into the attorney general’s office Tuesday, where he was asked about the story and requested to reveal his sources. 

This article appeared in print on page 8 of the August 21st, 2014 edition of Hamodia.