Prominent Afghan journalist Mena Mangal killed

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Journalist Mena Mangal was killed on Saturday in Kabul, a few days after receiving death threats on social media. 

The Afghan journalist and human rights activist was killed early on Saturday, in a public place, which has drawn sharp criticism from women's rights activists, who believe that the Afghan authorities left the journalist unprotected from threats, reports The Guardian.

"Did this woman already say her life was in danger? Why wasn't anyone protecting her? Why is it so easy in this society for men to continue killing women when they don't share the same opinion on something," said Vazma Frog, a lawyer and women's rights activist.

On May 3, Mangal wrote on Facebook that she was receiving threatening messages, but that she was not afraid of death and loved her country.

Interior Ministry spokesperson Nasrat Rahimi said that unknown attackers killed Mangal and that a special police unit has launched an investigation.

Mena Mangal's mother posted a video on Twitter in which she blames a group of men for her daughter's death, claiming they had previously kidnapped her. She said that members of that group were later arrested for kidnapping but managed to get out of prison through bribery.

Mena Mangal worked as a television presenter for Tolo and Shamshad stations.

She was a fighter for women's rights to education and work, and no one has yet claimed responsibility for her murder.