Slain Photojournalist Danish Siddqui’s Parents Approach International Criminal Court Against Taliban

Danish was a photojournalist with international news agency Reuters, who was embedded with the Afghan Special Forces in Spin Boldak during Taliban's escalation over Afghanistan. 

Slain Reuter Photojournalist Danish Siddiqui | Getty Images

New Delhi: The parents of Pulitzer-winning photojournalist Danish Siddiqui, who was killed in a Taliban attack in Afghanistan last year,  have filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court against the Islamist outfit.

Siddiqui, 38, was on assignment in Afghanistan when he was killed on July 16 last year. The journalist was covering clashes between Afghan troops and the Taliban in Spin Boldak district of Kandahar city.

Press Release from Danish Siddiqui's Family regarding filing ICC petition pic.twitter.com/Ul66rvdyvO

— Danish Siddiqui (@dansiddiqui) March 22, 2022

“Reports say that he was attacked by the Red Unit of Taliban. After his killing, his body was mutilated, including being run over by a heavy vehicle in public. His body revealed marks of brutal torture and 12 bullet entry and exit points. These were received after his capture, as his bullet proof jacket has no bullet marks,” read the press release by Danish’s parents. 

Akhtar Siddiqui and Shahida Akhtar, Danish’s parents have also held responsible the top leadership of the Taliban for their son’s murder in their complaint. 

“The Taliban leadership are responsible for the torture and killing of Siddiqui as well. They were aware of the incident and, also, have done nothing to punish the perpetrators,” stated the press release. Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, Supreme Commander of the Taliban, and six other top officials of the Taliban have been named in the complaint. 

“Danish, our loving son, was murdered by the Taliban for simply carrying out his journalistic duties,” said Shahida Akhtar, Danish’s mother. Akhtar Siddiqui, Danish’s father said, “as parents, we feel emotionally and morally obliged to take this action.” 

The complaint at the ICC has been filed through lawyer Avi Singh who said that Danish was targeted and killed “because he was a journalist and an Indian.”