Sayed Agha (fixer/driver) and Ajmal Naqshbandi (journalist)

Afghanistan. Killed 2007.

Sayed Agha (pictured here) worked as a freelance driver and fixer for foreign journalists in Afghanistan. One of these, journalist Con Coughlan, said,  “for men like Sayed, becoming known as someone who works with foreigners is a permanent threat to their lives “

Ajmal Naqshbandi was a highly respected local freelance journalist who had worked as a fixer, helping many foreign journalists in Afghanistan. Filmmaker Sean Langan, who had worked with both Ajmal and Sayed told us:  "they were the kind of people you would trust with your life">

Sayed and Ajmal were savagely murdered in the spring of 2007, after being abducted by the Taliban while working with Italian reporter Daniele Mastrogiacomo in Helmand province. Mastrogiacomo had been freed and this was a shocking reminder of the dangers and lack of protection for local freelancers.

Both Sayed and Ajmal left behind large families for whom they had been the main breadwinner.  Their colleagues and close friends organised a campaign to raise money for the families and The Rory Peck Trust sent money for their basic support.