Very late in the day, but hopefully not too late, I'd like to encourage you to join me in an appeal to Afghan President Hamid Kharzai. The death penalty is always wrong, no matter what. It is particularly wrong when it comes to punishing or threatening people who exert their right to speak out.
Thank you for joining me in the effort to save this young man's life.
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International PEN
AFGHANISTAN: Journalist Sayed Parwez Kambakhsh sentenced to death for blasphemy.
Author(s): Cathy McCann - WiPC Asia and Middle East Researcher
Date: 24th January, 2008
RAN 02/08
The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN is shocked by the death sentence handed down to journalist Sayed Parwez Kambakhsh on 22 January 2008 for blasphemy. International PEN calls upon President Hamid Karzai to personally intervene in this case as a matter of urgency, and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of journalist Sayed Parwez Kambakhsh in accordance with Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
According to PEN’s information, twenty-three year-old Sayed Parwez Kambakhsh, journalism student at Balkh university and reporter for the local daily Jahan-e-Naw (The New World), was arrested on 27 October 2007 in Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh province, northern Afghanistan for distributing allegedly anti-Islamic literature. He was detained by National Directorate of Security (NDS) forces on blasphemy charges after downloading and giving to friends an article that allegedly said the Prophet Mohammed ignored women’s rights. He was not the author of the article. He was also reportedly accused of possessing allegedly anti-Islamic books and starting un-Islamic debates in his classes. Whilst Kambakhsh admits to circulating the article, he denies the accusations of blasphemy.
Sayed Parwez Kambakhsh was tried by an Islamic court in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh Province, on 22 January 2008, and sentenced to death. The trial was reportedly held behind closed doors, and he had no legal representation. Sayed Parwez Kambakhsh is feared to be targeted for association with his brother, prominent journalist Sayed Yaqub Ibrahimi, who works for the Institute of War and Peace Reporting and has been under escalating pressure for his critical reporting on local officials and warlords.
Please send appeals:
- Expressing shock at the death sentence handed down to journalist Sayed Parwez Kambakhsh on blasphemy charges;
- calling for President Karzai to intervene to secure his immediate and unconditional release in accordance with Afghan law and Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Please send courteously worded appeals to:
His Excellency Hamid Karzai
President of the Islamic State of Afghanistan
Kabul
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
If possible please send appeals c/o the Ambassador for Afghanistan in your country.
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P.S.: in Switzerland, the address is:
Afghanistan Consulate, Switzerland
63, rue de Lausanne
1202 Geneva
Switzerland
Phone: +41-22-7311449
Fax: +41-22-7314510
e-mail:
