11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Pol-e-Charkhi prison: In October 2007 15 prisoners were executed; they were convicted of murder, armed robbery and rape; the EU and UN condemned this execution because a fair trial was not guaranteed ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23288]

"According to a 2006 Amnesty International (AI) report, President Karzai's chief of staff told the Secretary General of AI that there would be a moratorium on executions while judicial reform was carried out. However, on October 7, 15 prisoners were executed at Pol-e-Charkhi prison by executive order. According to prison officials, all prisoners allegedly were multiple offenders convicted of crimes including murder, armed robbery, and rape. One prisoner escaped, allegedly with the help of prison guards. The European Union (EU), UN, and numerous human rights NGOs condemned this execution, noting that the lack of due process in the judicial system did not guarantee a fair trial for those executed."

Document(s): Open document

11.2007 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

Death penalty exists in Afghan legislation; death penalty can also be imposed for being in „opposition“ ("11th European Country of Origin Information Seminar; Vienna, 21 - 22 June 2007; Country Report; Afghanistan") [ID 21954]

"Death Penalty exists in the Afghan legislation and can be imposed, for example, for:
• Crimes against national security, including being in “opposition” and conversion from Islam
• Current justice system does not provide for due process guarantees as required by
ICCPR and the ECOSOC resolution on safeguards on death penalty.

According to the European Convention on Human Rights, no person can be returned to a country where he or she might face death penalty. The fact that death penalty can be imposed for the charge of being in “opposition” is very relevant to many asylum seekers. Especially because these crimes are investigated, prosecuted and tried by the National Security Directorate (NDS) and National Security Courts, which lacks all due process guarantees and is not accountable to virtually anyone at the moment."

Document(s): Open document

27.09.2004 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

Kabul man is facing public execution for his involvement in murder of 3 male journalists and murder and rape of female journalist ("Investigation: Journalists' Murder Suspect on Trial") [#25936],  [ID 963]

Document(s): Open document

26.04.2004 - Source: Amnesty International

A military commander from Paghman killed in the first judicial execution known to have been carried out in Kabul since the fall of the Taliban ("Afghanistan: "First execution since fall of Taliban"") [#21702],  [ID 964]

Document(s): Open document

14.08.2003 - Source: Amnesty International

The Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code currently provide for the imposition of the death penalty in certain circumstances ("Afghanistan: Re-establishing the rule of law") [#15047],  [ID 965]

"The Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code currently provide for the imposition of the death penalty in certain circumstances. Amnesty International believes that the death penalty violates the right to life and is the ultimate form of ill-treatment. Although President Karzai has currently imposed a moratorium on the death penalty this provision must also be removed from the Criminal Code."

Document(s): Open document

23.10.2002 - Source: BBC News

UN Special Rapporteur calls for accountability for past human rights violations and imposition of the rule of law; Afghan judicial system does not yet meet standards to impose death penalty; 2 death sentences have already been passed ("Call for Afghan war crimes inquiry") [#9228],  [ID 966]

Document(s): Open document