Strasbourg, 13/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - In a common resolution by the political groups (EPP-ED, PES, ALDE, UEN, Greens/EFA, GUE/NG) adopted on Thursday 13 March in Strasbourg, the European Parliament condemns the arrest of Afghan journalist Perwiz Kambakhsh and the decision by the primary court of Balkh province to sentence him to death on charges of blasphemy. It calls for Mr Kambakhsh to be released and reaffirms its unconditional opposition to the death penalty and its commitment to respect of rule of law.
It is asked of the Afghan authorities to do everything in their power to “prevent his execution and to secure a review of Mr Kambakhsh's case”. If the court of appeal upholds the death sentence, President Hamid Karzaï should exercise his power to pardon Mr Kambakhsh, MEPs say. Furthermore, the EP: - expresses its solidarity with all those fighting for independent journalism in Afghanistan; - calls on the president and parliament of Afghanistan to take appropriate steps to speed up the development of a functional penal and judicial system based on international standards and best practices; - welcomes the announcement by the European Commission for immediate financial support to help Afghanistan strengthen the rule of law and reform its judiciary; - and invites the Afghan government to fully respect the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to ensure that freedom of expression is fully guaranteed and upheld for all citizens in Afghanistan. (L.C.)