Herat TV: Religious scholar approves execution of criminals

Excerpt from report by provincial state-owned Afghan Herat TV on 9 October

The Herat Council of Religious Scholars has welcomed the implementation of the religious penalty in the country. At the council’s [weekly] meeting chaired by Hajji Malawi Khodadad Saleh, head of the council in western Afghanistan, yesterday, the religious scholars approved the government’s recent decision to execute a number of criminals. They described the move as a giant step towards security reinforcement.

[Passage omitted: the council denounces attempt on a famous religious scholar in Herat].

The head of the council expressed happiness about the implementation of the religious penalty in line with the recent presidential decree. He stated the move indicates the government is now fully determined to tackle corruption and crimes against humanity.

He added: This is the pride of the religious scholars in Herat Province, who asked the government a month ago to put into effect the religious punishment and now the elected government has approved their suggestion.

[Description of Source: Herat Television in Dari -- state-run television.  OSC IAP20071010950044 1630 GMT 09 Oct 07]

Radio Sahar: Afghan police release two Iranians from kidnappers in Herat

Excerpt from report by Afghan female-orientated community Radio Sahar on 10 October

[Presenter] Two Iranian citizens have been released from kidnappers. According to the Herat Security Command’s press office, the kidnappers held the Iranian nationals for 15 days. Hami Azad has further details on this:

[Correspondent] Col Nur Khan Nikzad, head of the Herat Security Command’s press office, says the Iranian nationals come from Birjand District of Iranian Khorasan Province, adding that the abductors kidnapped them 15 days ago and transferred them to Ghowrian District of Herat Province.

Mr Nikzad said the police force launched an operation and released the abductees after getting information about their location in Ghowrian District. [Passage omitted: colonel's comments, repetition]

At the same time, it is said that the kidnappers managed to flee the scene, but the police have launched an investigation into the case.

The security forces have already released six other foreign nationals kidnapped and transferred to Herat Province since the beginning of the current year.

[Description of Source: Herat Radio Sahar in Dari -- local independent radio station in Herat run mainly by women.  OSC  IAP20071010950066 1230 GMT 10 Oct 07]

Tolu TV: Afghan MPs call on Iran to repatriate underage convicts to Afghanistan

Text of report by Afghan independent Tolo TV, on 10 October

[Presenter] A number of MPs call on the government of Iran to reconsider the death penalty for 16 young Afghan nationals.

The teenagers, ranging between 12 to 16 years of age, had been used by drug smugglers to smuggle drugs into Iran with fake passports.

[Correspondent] The MPs say drug smugglers had deceived the teenagers, and that the government of Iran should not punish the children like adults.

[Babrak Shinwari, MP from Nangarhar Province, in Pashto] As I see the morale of the parliament, even those who have very deep feelings and links with Iran have shown a very serious reaction to this, especially with regard to refugees and these 15 people. If these people are executed, and if this worsens the situation, I do not think we can easily compensate for it. Not only the neighbourly relations but also political relations between Iran and Afghanistan will worsen.

[Fawzia Kofi, MP from Badakhshan Province] We sincerely ask Iranian authorities and Iranian civil society organizations to observe the good neighbourly relations and make sure that the Islamic Republic of Iran remains committed to its international obligations. We ask them to take serious measures and release or repatriate the 17 Afghan children – one of them already executed – the 16 Afghan children to Afghanistan.

[Correspondent] Sixteen Afghan teenagers are on death row in Iran. These teenagers are aged between 12 and 16.

The lucrative drugs trade makes smugglers to use poor and deprived children. All these teenagers are residents of Ghorian District of Herat Province.

We are going to the Foreign Affairs Ministry to ask what the ministry has done, and what it will do in the future, to save the deceived teenagers.

[Sultan Ahmad Bahin, spokesman, Foreign Affairs Ministry] Authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran have promised that they will discuss the issue with other officials in their country. We are awaiting their response. We hope, in view of the friendly relations that we have with the Islamic Republic of Iran, the fact that we are neighbours and share a common language and religion, and in view of the fact that the Islamic Republic of Iran has played a good role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, we hope this [presumably execution] does not happen.

[Correspondent] Lawyers believe there is no law anywhere in the world based on which children should be punished like adults.

[Description of Source: Kabul Tolu Television in Dari -- Independent television.  OSC IAP20071011950003 Kabul Tolu Television in Dari 1400 GMT 10 Oct 07]