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David E. Tosi
105 Old Orchard Road
York, PA 17403
USA
DATE: December 17, 2005
Office of the President
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
President Hamid Karzai
Asalaam Walikum.
I respectfully am writing this letter to you today to strongly protest the treatment of the jailed editor of the Women's Rights "Hoqooq-I-Zan" magazine, Ali Mohaqiq Nasab. Mr. Nasab was arrested
and jailed after publishing articles deemed blasphemous to Islam. Mr. Nasab is an ethnic Hazara and a Shi'ite, both minorities that have suffered and continue to suffer persecution, marginalization and deadly discrimination in
past and current political and social situations.
Legislation in your country stipulates that journalists can only be arrested after a government appointed media commission has studied their case. Is it possible that Mr.
Nasab being discriminated against because of his ethnicity and religion?
It has been widely reported that Mr. Nasab has been tortured and is being held in deplorable conditions. This is unacceptable. Afghanistan is a
signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The international community has not contributed its resources over these last years to have the continued deterioration
of press conditions, and the inhuman treatment of "prisoners" in state custody, that are strikingly similar to the treatment of "prisoners" that occurred when the Taliban were in charge of the country.
I urgently request that you fully and completely investigate this situation in the most transparent manner possible, and ensure that Mr. Nasab is being held in accordance with all international guidelines. Thank
you for your attention to this matter.
Asalaam Walikum.
Sincerely,
David E. Tosi
Human rights activist
Amnesty International
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