Last updated: 08/02/2008
Afghan outrage: locals voice concern over death penalty

Public opinion on the streets of the Afghan capital on the fate of Sayed Pervez Kambaksh is divided.

Members of the Solidarity Party of Afghanistan marched during a demonstration in Kabul on January 31 to protest against his death sentence.

People in the capital Kabul are more secular than those from rural areas of Afghanistan but still views are mixed on the death sentence placed on Kambaksh.

Madina, a 17-year-old journalism student at Kabul University, urged the courts to pardon her fellow student. She is worried that the execution would represent a terrifying return to Taliban-style injustice.

“They should forgive him. He is young. He is a student. He just printed something off the internet - he should not lose his life. We should not go back to the Taliban times. We should think of something new, we should engage with him, we should talk to him and listen to his opinion,” she said.

“In a free country, everyone should have the right to criticise religion,” said 20-year-old flight attendant, Metra Khonari, adding that the case offered a chance to overhaul the legal system.

“We shouldn’t go backwards. Conservative people should not be allowed to victimise the young. It was not a fair trial, the court was not free and he didn’t have a proper defence.”
Under the oppressive Taliban-regime women were banned from working. Khonari added, “We should reform our justice system because most of the judges have been educated in madrassas. They have not had a proper, modern education.”
Kambaksh’s case has received wide-spread media coverage in Afghanistan and is a hot-topic of debate in the country.

Sale Mohammed, a 19-year-old student, said it was up to human rights groups to intervene. “I really disapprove of the court’s decision,” he added. “He just wanted to show his friends what he had found in a report. I want the human rights commission to help us to release him.”

“He just shared an article with his friends. He didn’t write it, so what’s the problem?” said Najibullah, a Kabul shopkeeper.
Mir Ahmadi Joyinda, an Afghan MP, said: “It is unacceptable and unbelievable. We have laws about the media but he did not have a fair trial. We want him released.”

However, not everyone condemned the Sharia courts ruling. Abdul Wasi Tokhi, an 18-year-old student at the American University in Kabul, called for a swift execution.

“The guy should be hanged. He was making fun of Islam’s rules and regulations. He was making fun of the Prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him. You cannot criticise any principles which have been approved by sharia. It is the words of the Prophet,” he said.

Qari Imam Bakhsh, a Muslim cleric, agreed, saying: “I think he is not a Muslim. A Muslim would not make this kind of mistake. He should be punished so that others can learn from him.”