www.independent.co.uk
Mr Kambaksh was arrested for distributing a pamphlet about women's rights, and tried and convicted without a defence lawyer, in a closed court in Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan. His case led to international protests, led by the UN human rights chief, Louise Arbour, and Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State.
Last night, Mr Kambaksh's brother, Sayed Yaqub Ibrahimi, thanked The Independent's army of readers around the world. "If it wasn't for the petition we would be alone. There are a lot of pressures inside Afghanistan from the fundamentalists. They are trying to execute my brother," he said. "Fortunately, against them, there is pressure from the international community, and The Independent petition. I really believe it will help us."
punditman says...Remember, this Afghan government (under Hamid Karzai) are supposedly the "good guys" who deserve Western support--not to mention our treasure and the blood of our youth. So why, then, is Mr Kambaksh languishing in prison? Is this the sort of human rights and "democracy" we are supporting? A government where the rule of law remains a joke? From the article: "A moratorium on capital punishment ended last year when President Karzai ordered a mass execution." No wonder Bush likes him.
