AFGHAN RIGHTS COMMISSION BACKS CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, CALLS FOR TRANSPARENCY

spokesman for the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission [AIHRC] Nader Naderi said he is in favour of capital punishment but also that the Afghan judicial system is corrupt and unfair. Capital punishment should be part of the government's programme to combat increasing crime, he said, but there should be greater transparency in the judicial system. AIHRC also welcomed enforcing the law and the death penalty for criminals, saying the commission has always demanded that the government put an end to the culture of impunity, punishing criminals and law violators. Naderi said: "Execution itself is an effective and positive step in putting an end to the culture of impunity, but we hope the government does not act selectively and partially in dealing with the cases involving the death penalty." However, he admitted that the massive implementation of the death penalty cannot prevent crimes being repeated.