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Death Sentence for Afghan Student
by NY Times
Reposted from:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/24/world/middleeast/24afghan.html
KABUL, Afghanistan — An Afghan court in northern Afghanistan sentenced a journalism student to death for blasphemy for distributing an article from the Internet that was considered an insult to the Prophet Muhammad, the judge in charge of the court said Wednesday.
The student, Sayed Parwiz Kambakhsh, 23, who also works on a local newspaper, was charged with directly insulting Muhammad by calling the prophet "a killer and adulterer," the judge, Shamsurahman Muhmand, said in a telephone interview.
The sentence was immediately denounced as unfair by Mr. Kambakhsh's family and journalists' organizations. Mr. Kambakhsh's brother, Sayed Yaqub Ibrahimi, denied his brother had committed blasphemy, and said his brother was not given enough time to prepare his defense for the trial and was denied a defense lawyer.
Mr. Kambakhsh will have the right of appeal to the regional court and then the Supreme Court.
Mr. Kambakhsh is in fact being punished for articles written by his brother, Mr. Ibrahimi, said Jean Mackenzie, director for the Institute for Peace and War Reporting in Afghanistan, which has printed some of Mr. Ibrahimi's stories. The day after his brother was arrested in October, officials from the National Directorate of Security raided Mr. Ibrahimi's home and seized his computer hard drive, she said. They were most interested in the sources on a story that was critical of a local militia commander and parliamentarian called Piram Qol, she said.
Hearings of the case against Mr. Kambakhsh were delayed several times, until the provincial Council of Clerics met last week and called for the death sentence to be imposed on the student.
The case is the third time that clerics have called for the death sentence for a blasphemer in Afghanistan in the six years since the removal of the Taliban regime and reflects the deep conservatism that prevails in Afghan society even under the more liberal government of President Hamid Karzai.
In previous cases, those accused have either left the country and sought asylum abroad, or in one case an editor was absolved after government intervention. Yet mullahs have voiced increasingly strident complaints against the perceived corruption of society by foreign influence and in particular the influence of foreign television and film channels.
Mr. Muhmand, who is trained in religious law, headed a three-judge panel that heard Mr. Kambakhsh's case in the primary civilian court in the town of Mazar-i-Sharif Tuesday. He denied that he was influenced by the call from clerics for the death sentence and said he judged the case according to the law.
Mr. Kambakhsh is a student at the faculty of journalism in Mazar-i-Sharif and also works for a daily paper, Jahan-e-Naw, as a reporter. He was accused of downloading a controversial article and adding some of his own paragraphs about the ignorance of the Prophet Muhammad on women's rights.
"He confessed that he added three paragraphs to the article and distributed it to his classmates at the university," Mr. Muhmand said.
The director of the Afghan Independent Journalists' Association, Rahimullah Samander, said he was shocked to learn of the sentence and had already appealed to Mr. Karzai, Parliament and other officials, asking them to intervene.
"It was unfair and the case should have been referred to the commission of journalists' offenses, based on the law on the media," he said.
He said that the local government and the Council of Clerics had influenced the court's decision as Mr. Kambakhsh and his brother, Mr. Ibrahimi, were often writing articles that were critical of the local government.
The case follows two previous incidents of journalists being accused of blasphemy in Afghanistan since 2001 and the installation of Mr. Karzai's government. One concerned Ali Mohaqiq Nasab, the editor of a Kabul-based monthly women's magazine, who was sentenced to two years imprisonment in October 2005 for blasphemy. He was later freed on appeal after intervention by the minister of information and culture.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/24/world/middleeast/24afghan.html
KABUL, Afghanistan — An Afghan court in northern Afghanistan sentenced a journalism student to death for blasphemy for distributing an article from the Internet that was considered an insult to the Prophet Muhammad, the judge in charge of the court said Wednesday.
The student, Sayed Parwiz Kambakhsh, 23, who also works on a local newspaper, was charged with directly insulting Muhammad by calling the prophet "a killer and adulterer," the judge, Shamsurahman Muhmand, said in a telephone interview.
The sentence was immediately denounced as unfair by Mr. Kambakhsh's family and journalists' organizations. Mr. Kambakhsh's brother, Sayed Yaqub Ibrahimi, denied his brother had committed blasphemy, and said his brother was not given enough time to prepare his defense for the trial and was denied a defense lawyer.
Mr. Kambakhsh will have the right of appeal to the regional court and then the Supreme Court.
Mr. Kambakhsh is in fact being punished for articles written by his brother, Mr. Ibrahimi, said Jean Mackenzie, director for the Institute for Peace and War Reporting in Afghanistan, which has printed some of Mr. Ibrahimi's stories. The day after his brother was arrested in October, officials from the National Directorate of Security raided Mr. Ibrahimi's home and seized his computer hard drive, she said. They were most interested in the sources on a story that was critical of a local militia commander and parliamentarian called Piram Qol, she said.
Hearings of the case against Mr. Kambakhsh were delayed several times, until the provincial Council of Clerics met last week and called for the death sentence to be imposed on the student.
The case is the third time that clerics have called for the death sentence for a blasphemer in Afghanistan in the six years since the removal of the Taliban regime and reflects the deep conservatism that prevails in Afghan society even under the more liberal government of President Hamid Karzai.
In previous cases, those accused have either left the country and sought asylum abroad, or in one case an editor was absolved after government intervention. Yet mullahs have voiced increasingly strident complaints against the perceived corruption of society by foreign influence and in particular the influence of foreign television and film channels.
Mr. Muhmand, who is trained in religious law, headed a three-judge panel that heard Mr. Kambakhsh's case in the primary civilian court in the town of Mazar-i-Sharif Tuesday. He denied that he was influenced by the call from clerics for the death sentence and said he judged the case according to the law.
Mr. Kambakhsh is a student at the faculty of journalism in Mazar-i-Sharif and also works for a daily paper, Jahan-e-Naw, as a reporter. He was accused of downloading a controversial article and adding some of his own paragraphs about the ignorance of the Prophet Muhammad on women's rights.
"He confessed that he added three paragraphs to the article and distributed it to his classmates at the university," Mr. Muhmand said.
The director of the Afghan Independent Journalists' Association, Rahimullah Samander, said he was shocked to learn of the sentence and had already appealed to Mr. Karzai, Parliament and other officials, asking them to intervene.
"It was unfair and the case should have been referred to the commission of journalists' offenses, based on the law on the media," he said.
He said that the local government and the Council of Clerics had influenced the court's decision as Mr. Kambakhsh and his brother, Mr. Ibrahimi, were often writing articles that were critical of the local government.
The case follows two previous incidents of journalists being accused of blasphemy in Afghanistan since 2001 and the installation of Mr. Karzai's government. One concerned Ali Mohaqiq Nasab, the editor of a Kabul-based monthly women's magazine, who was sentenced to two years imprisonment in October 2005 for blasphemy. He was later freed on appeal after intervention by the minister of information and culture.
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Posted: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 | PermalinkComments 1 - 35 of 35 |
Reload Comments | Back to Top | Page Numbers2. Comment #115112 by Goldy on January 23, 2008 at 3:26 pm
They were most interested in the sources on a story that was critical of a local militia commander and parliamentarian called Piram Qol
The case is the third time that clerics have called for the death sentence for a blasphemer in Afghanistan in the six years since the removal of the Taliban regime and reflects the deep conservatism that prevails in Afghan society even under the more liberal government of President Hamid Karzai.
Not sure about the "deep conservatism" mentioned - more like the deep simplicity and the bottomless corruption there. Clerics can be bought, Piram Qol probably has a very large stash from his opium poppies (probably - I'm sure he is a very "honest" man really) and the only way to get the people not to protest is to invoke Allah and Mo to the argument.
Other Comments by Goldy
3. Comment #115122 by Devolution on January 23, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Well its good to see that our invasion of Afghanistan and the subsequent removal of the Taliban from power has really turned this country around for the better! Other Comments by Devolution
4. Comment #115133 by Gymnopedie on January 23, 2008 at 4:15 pm
The glory of Sharia law.What exactly goes through the head of the clerics who do these sentencings? Absolutely nothing? I can't even imagine what such a bizarre power trip would feel like.
Other Comments by Gymnopedie
5. Comment #115135 by Ian Bamlett on January 23, 2008 at 4:26 pm
I doubt the sentence will be carried out. Too much bad PR for the American backed government. Other Comments by Ian Bamlett
6. Comment #115136 by Arcturus on January 23, 2008 at 4:27 pm
They seem to be living in the past, half a millennia in the past. We've had our share of death sentences for blasphemy. The mighty Roman Catholic Church and it's Inquisition were thorough.Come on Muslim people, learn something from humanity's past.
Other Comments by Arcturus
7. Comment #115140 by robotaholic on January 23, 2008 at 4:38 pm
excuse me for sounding so blatantly American...but That makes me pissed. That country is MESSED UP. How can anyone be so hateful as to demand someone's death. (rhetorical) I think of the so called progress in zeitgeist and feel like 1/2 the planet is 500 yrs behind the rest. Other Comments by robotaholic
8. Comment #115141 by Diacanu on January 23, 2008 at 4:47 pm
And the moral of the story, avoid any country ending in "-stan", like it was made of plutonium soaked in super-AIDS. Other Comments by Diacanu
9. Comment #115144 by Sans foi ni dieu on January 23, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Beth, if we start making noise about this the local muslims will freak out and start marching in the streets, harassing us about our lack of understanding of peace loving Islam. That being said, let them march! I made my complaint. Other Comments by Sans foi ni dieu
10. Comment #115145 by Diacanu on January 23, 2008 at 4:57 pm
robotaholic-How can anyone be so hateful as to demand someone's death.
A culture sunk into a "lord of the flies", state, with laws and a God to back it up.
Like witch trials.
Their primal dark side wants to kill anyway, but they have bullshit and a community to back it up.
Other Comments by Diacanu
11. Comment #115162 by Nails on January 23, 2008 at 5:23 pm
The student, Sayed Parwiz Kambakhsh, 23, who also works on a local newspaper, was charged with directly insulting Muhammad by calling the prophet "a killer and adulterer," the judge, Shamsurahman Muhmand, said in a telephone interview.Does he not get second prize for being factually correct?
Maybe he would have faired better if he added fraud & paedophile.
Other Comments by Nails
12. Comment #115196 by LorienRyan on January 23, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Many elements of some cultures are expressions of mental illness. Other Comments by LorienRyan
13. Comment #115212 by Sans foi ni dieu on January 23, 2008 at 6:49 pm
LorienRyan, one word: W O W ! ! !I wish someone told me that when I grew up. If I ever have kids they'll hear it!
Other Comments by Sans foi ni dieu
14. Comment #115257 by Mango on January 23, 2008 at 8:02 pm
I thought the US invasion was supposed kick out the Taleban and their primitive sense of justice? Oh, nevermind. It's all of Islam. Other Comments by Mango
15. Comment #115261 by Strigoia on January 23, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Beyond writing to Congress (which is a good idea, thank you Beth), does anyone have any suggestions for how to help him and his brother?Other Comments by Strigoia
16. Comment #115288 by pastin on January 23, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Beyond writing to Congress (which is a good idea, thank you Beth), does anyone have any suggestions for how to help him and his brother?
We could try another dose of "Shock And Awe"?
That worked out so well the last time.
Other Comments by pastin
17. Comment #115294 by lesferdinand on January 24, 2008 at 12:38 am
Once again a case that shows the problems the Western world gets itself into as long as we keep taking religion serious.Other Comments by lesferdinand
18. Comment #115306 by Synchronium on January 24, 2008 at 1:35 am
Muhammad gets on my tits more and more every day...Other Comments by Synchronium
19. Comment #115307 by Goodbluff on January 24, 2008 at 1:37 am
Nothing strange here they're simply applying the law. The "crime" in question may not strictly constitute apostasy, but close enough as:Rejecting Muhammad's claim to be a prophet,denying the concept of prophethood, Cursing Muhammad, defaming his character, etc.
can be considered a form of apostasy.
End of story, welcome to the middle-ages :(
Other Comments by Goodbluff
20. Comment #115317 by irate_atheist on January 24, 2008 at 2:11 am
9. Comment #115141 by Diacanu -Likewise, don't invest in a country with green in its flag.
Other Comments by irate_atheist
21. Comment #115329 by Tyler Durden on January 24, 2008 at 3:02 am
Comment #115317 by irate_atheist:Likewise, don't invest in a country with green in its flag.And what exactly is wrong with Ireland? :)
Other Comments by Tyler Durden
22. Comment #115332 by irate_atheist on January 24, 2008 at 3:08 am
22. Comment #115329 by Tyler Durden -Rule 2. Never make generalisations.
Other Comments by irate_atheist
23. Comment #115372 by Azven on January 24, 2008 at 5:26 am
So, Allah cannot mete out his own punishments, He has to rely on a Council of Clerics to do it for Him? Or, is it that He cannot be offended by human blasphemy? Or, is it that He doesn't exist. Other Comments by Azven
24. Comment #115423 by cowalker on January 24, 2008 at 7:21 am
As others have pointed out before, Muslims are more sensitive to perceived insults to Mohammed than insults to Allah.As prophets go, to me Mohammed seems most like Joseph Smith, who also received revelations that livened up his sex life. However it appears that Mohammed received more just-in-time heavenly words that settled trivial problems like squabbling wives to his own satisfaction.
One might think that a Supreme Being would have better things to do than referee human spats, but Christians insist that His eye is on the sparrow. Of course that doesn't stop it from falling to the ground. Like Chauncey Gardner, God likes to watch, and receives the same admiration and affection for doing so.
Other Comments by cowalker
25. Comment #115428 by al-rawandi on January 24, 2008 at 7:26 am
cowalker,Excellent observation. I have spent a lot of time studying Islam and the prophetic model. Muhammad created a system where he would marry as many women as he pleased, beyond the limit of 4 wives for the average Muslim. He then declared that any booty (ghanam) gained in raids (ghazu) was to be divided and he was to get 1/5 (I believe).
That seems identical to Mormon "tithing" which was sent upwards to the Prophetic types to support their polygamy.
Other Comments by al-rawandi
26. Comment #115590 by elfstoned on January 24, 2008 at 11:22 am
Enough with political correctness and cultural diversity. Sharia law is a violation of human rights and all nations that use it should face international sanctions.Other Comments by elfstoned
27. Comment #115745 by rustylix on January 24, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Beyond writing to Congress (which is a good idea, thank you Beth), does anyone have any suggestions for how to help him and his brother?
I was considering emailing questionable content to the university, and its students, in question.
Rule 2. Never make generalisations.
lol
Other Comments by rustylix
28. Comment #115903 by mdowe on January 25, 2008 at 2:35 am
I'm pretty much inclined to echo Devolution's sentiments. But I suppose this kind of barbarism in post-invasion Afghanistan isn't a surprise. Western troops are there to serve Western interests -- exactly what (and whose) 'Western interests' are being served is a matter I'll leave open to speculation. In any case, any benefits to Afghans that come of it are really only fringe benefits. And even on idealistic grounds, I can't see America standing up for the principles of secularism in law and government these days =/ Other Comments by mdowe
29. Comment #116287 by MaxD on January 26, 2008 at 7:01 am
I think is one of the main reasons I think the war in Iraq was such a big mistake. While at some point it is likely we would have to have dealt with Saddam Hussain, it could have waited. while we used our manpower, and a much more united coalition to really settle Afghanistan. I mean turn it into a representative of the modern industrialized world. I think Iraq has cost us huge opportunities.
Other Comments by MaxD
30. Comment #116766 by mintcheerios on January 27, 2008 at 11:03 am
I hope he runs away to a free speech nation and make some more articles.Other Comments by mintcheerios
31. Comment #116798 by SkepticalThinker31 on January 27, 2008 at 1:15 pm
I already e-mailed my local congressman about this and I hope he does something, but I'm not holding my breath. I believe that since the U.S. is already in Afghanistan we should help them fix their consitution which is filled with contradictions. To read about the contradictions read this article: http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/03/ad051c73-2777-4497-9f13-1293c2293380.htmlNothing was done to change the constitution after the incident outlined in the article ocurred, although Rahman was released due to his "Insanity" as the article foreshadows.
Other Comments by SkepticalThinker31
32. Comment #117951 by epeeist on January 30, 2008 at 3:50 am
There is a small update here - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7216976.stmNot just the courts, but the parliament want him dead.
Other Comments by epeeist
33. Comment #117954 by irate_atheist on January 30, 2008 at 4:04 am
33. Comment #117951 by epeeist -From the article:
Mr Kambaksh has at least two more courts in which to appeal and the sentence would have to be approved by President Karzai to be carried out.It will be interesting to see if it gets that far, and if so, what the great Khazi himself rules.
Other Comments by irate_atheist
34. Comment #117956 by Verylee on January 30, 2008 at 4:19 am
At the risk of being labelled a cynic, I think now that he has been banged up, he is no more than a political tool, a "bargaining chip", and it will be up to outside elements (governments etc) to decide how much value they place on a human life over their policies and goals in Afghanistan, and nothing to do with blasphemy any more. Other Comments by Verylee
35. Comment #117959 by garywheron on January 30, 2008 at 4:29 am
It is the same old story "Ours is a peace loving, tolerant religion and we will kill anyone who says otherwise." I am sick of religious leaders saying they are all for free speach but you must not say anything offensive about their religion.Other Comments by garywheron
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1. Comment #115111 by 82abhilash on January 23, 2008 at 3:20 pm
What exactly was the insulting article? I would like to read it.Other Comments by 82abhilash