Afghan government lifts death sentence for student journalist
source: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/afghan-government-official-says-that-student-wi...
-
-
- abbym0308
- added this
"The condemned student journalist Sayed Pervez Kambaksh will not face execution, a senior government official in Afghanistan indicated yesterday.
A ministerial aide, Najib Manalai, insisted: "I am not worried for his life. I'm sure Afghanistan's justice system will find the best way to avoid this sentence."
It was the clearest indication yet that the 23-year-old will have his death penalty revoked amid mounting international pressure on the Afghan authorities.
Mr Kambaksh was condemned to die by an Islamic court for insulting Islam. He was found guilty under sharia law after he distributed articles from the internet on women's rights at Balkh university in northern Afghanistan, an act he claims was aimed at provoking debate. His family say he was not allowed a defence lawyer and the trial was in secret.
The verdict, briefly endorsed by the Afghan senate before it retracted its opinion, caused international protests. More than 63,000 people have signed an Independent petition urging the Foreign Office to put all possible pressure on the Afghan government to prevent the execution. The United Nations' senior human rights advocate, Louise Arbour, has written to the President and his top officials, "reminding them of their responsibilities" under the country's constitution, which enshrines freedom of speech. President Hamid Karzai's staff said he had been inundated by appeals from pressure groups across the globe to pardon the student journalist."
Thanks also to those current.com users who signed the petition to help save this young man's life, and help uphold the right to encourage debate.
-
- tags:
- Afghanistan, Islam, Journalism, Students, 1 more
-
-
lifestudentno83
-
It feels good to know that in some small way we contributed to making a difference halfway across the planet for taking 5 minutes to electorincally sign something. Not only that, but we saved a man's life, and at the end of the day it makes you feel a little warm inside.
- 3 years ago
-
lifestudentno83
-
-
rabidlemur
-
This is awesome! Hell yeah, free speech FTW!
- 3 years ago
-
rabidlemur
-
-
emilyp223
-
This is really great news =]
- 4 years ago
-
emilyp223
-
-
jonnat17
-
i think that was the first petition i signed that actually achieved a good result...(all those ones about ending American Emperialism and the ones to have Bush Impeached haven't been terribly effective thus far...)
- 4 years ago
-
jonnat17
-
-
Pfestler
-
This is great!
- 4 years ago
-
Pfestler
-
-
redryan
-
it feels good knowing my signature has a slight significance and power in the afghan judicial system, when the convicted is fighting for free speech.
thx to everyone else who signed the petition. - 4 years ago
-
redryan
-
-
abbym0308
-
-
For the background on this story, check out this thread.
- 4 years ago
-
abbym0308
