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]