Right of appeal granted to Afghan journalist on death row

The Afghan journalist who was sentenced to death in January for disseminating articles critical of Islam has been granted the right of appeal, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported on April 17.

Sayed Perwiz Kambakhsh, a 23-year-old journalism student, was initially arrested for allegedly writing an article that expressed feminist criticisms of Islam.

According to Jean Mackenzie, the Institute for War and Peace Reporting’s Afghanistan country director, international protests from governments and NGOs played a role in the Afghan government’s decision to allow Sayed his right of appeal. She added that protests in cities across Afghanistan organized by domestic groups also brought attention to the case.

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