Religious freedom significantly imperilled in Afghanistan

pakistan tribune ^ | September 27, 2003

[Colorado Doug]

KABUL, September 28 (Online): Members of a federal panel are warning that religious freedom and other human rights remain seriously imperilled in Afghanistan even under a United States-backed government.

Members of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, reporting on an August visit to Kabul, said Sept. 24 that the U.S.-backed interim government is in danger of allowing the nation to return to the patterns of severe repression of religious freedom that characterised the Taliban's rule there.

The Taliban were deposed by U.S.-led forces in 2001 for harbouring Osama bin Laden and other members of the al-Qaeda terrorist organization.

Noting that the country was in the "crucial period" of preparing a proposal for a permanent constitution, the report said "there are indications... that the gains for human rights achieved by the U.S.-led coalition's victory over the Taliban are in peril."

The commission mentioned reports of abuse of religious freedom and other human rights taking place in areas of the country that have not yet been brought under the transitional government's authority.

"The security situation both within and outside Kabul is precarious and perhaps even deteriorating," the report said. "Taliban and al-Qaida remnants remain active and have been joined by others hostile to the internationally recognised transitional administration led by President [Hamid] Karzai. Regional warlords and local military commanders operate independently of the central government and abuse human rights with impunity."

The report also noted that "there have been troubling signs that Afghanistan's reconstructed legal system and the new Afghan constitution might be used by extremists in the transitional administration to deny universal human rights, including freedom of religion and belief, to the Afghan population."

The commission has before noted that an Afghan judge -- whose salary is subsidised by the U.S. -- has handed down blasphemy rulings. The latest report also notes that, in Afghanistan, "journalists have recently faced prosecution by the U.S.-supported transitional administration for allegedly having 'offended Islam,' when the real offence is political."

The report went on to recommend that Afghan reformers and moderates "be protected from accusations of blasphemy or similar charges for daring to raise questions about the appropriate role of Islam in Afghanistan's political and legal systems or for criticising specific political figures or political parties."

Afghans are currently drafting the proposed constitution. A spokesperson for the commission said that, according to their best knowledge, the proposal would be released sometime this fall.

End.

[Colorado Doug]

When will we ever learn? Blasphemy against islam is a good thing and should be rewarded.

[aimhigh]

And it's a lot poorer, and less developed.

Until they stop persecuting Christians and Jews, they will always be poor.