Afghanistan
Imprisoned reporter pardoned, releasedPosted Sep 23 2009
Sayed Perwiz Kambakhsh, an Afghan journalist for the newspaper Jahan-e-Naw (“New World”), was released from prison on a secret presidential pardon. He then left the country due to fear of reprisals, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
Kambakhsh, who had downloaded an article criticizing Islam’s stance on women’s rights, was arrested in Mazar-i-Sharif in October 2007. He was arrested on a charge of “blasphemy and distribution of texts defamatory of Islam,” according to RSF.
He was sentenced to death in January 2008, but the sentence was commuted to 20 years in prison. Kambakhsh’s release was made public Sept. 7, but the presidential pardon was apparently issued several weeks earlier.
According to Reuters, the upper house of parliament has condemned the reporter’s release, calling it contrary to Islamic values.
More information
- Reuters
- International Freedom of Expression Exchange
- Reporters Without Borders