AFGHANISTAN: WATCHDOG CALLS FOR SPEEDY TRIAL OF DEATH SENTENCE JOURNALIST

Reporters Without Borders called for the release of Afghan journalist Sayed Perwiz Kambakhsh, aged 23, who was sentenced to death for "blasphemy" six months ago. Perwiz Kambakhsh's appeal hearing has been adjourned since June 15 because of the absence of witnesses. Students and professors from the Mazar-i-Sharif University were due to give evidence but they have not yet been official summoned to Kabul. "We cannot under why the justice system does not want to release this young journalist, despite proof of his innocence. It is essential that the appeal court speeds up his trial", the worldwide press freedom organisation said. Reporters Without Borders also pointed out that Jawed Ahmad, Afghan contributor to the Canadian television channel CTV, has been held without trial by the US Army since 2 November 2007, on the Bagram air base, north of Kabul, accused of being an "enemy combatant" because of his alleged contacts with the Taliban.