From Amir Shah, the terrorist loving photojournalist at the AP:

The three-judge panel sentenced Sayad Parwez Kambaksh to death for distributing a paper that humiliated Islam, said Fazel Wahab, the chief judge in the northern province of Balkh, where the trial took place. Wahab did not preside over the trial.

Kambaksh’s family and the head of a journalists group denounced the verdict and said Kambaksh was not represented by a lawyer at trial. Members of a clerics council had been pushing for Kambaksh to be punished.

From Robert Spencer.. The problem with this case is that Kambaksh is a 23 year old internet user STUDENT who was sentenced to death in another one of Afghanistan’s infamous secret trials, based on a document he printed off the internet.

Blue Star Chronicles has a picture of the young man.

Sayad Parwez Kambaksh’s crime was printing a document from the internet that allegedly “violated the tenets of Islam.” Kambaksh then allegedly took the printout to Balkh University, where he discussed the contents with his teacher and classmates, that resulted in a complaint to the US backed Government.

Also at the Kabul Express- (see below) the translation of another article about journalists, with thanks to Fahim. There is a bigger problem that seems to be ‘hidden’…

According to Afghanistan official constitution and Freedom of Press laws, Afghan Intelligent Service, Police and Attorney are not allowed to imprison or arrest any journalist in the country. Only Media Commission has the right to investigate if something went wrong and then they can transfer to case to the attorney.

In Taliban-type courts, though, people are railroaded without representation, as you can see above.

Afghan Intelligence Service illegally prosecutes, following, arresting and torturing the local journalist every single day.

Intelligence service published censorship letter two years ago to the local media that warned the journalist to not write anything they think is good. After that, they started torturing and arresting the journalist.

A journalist was arrested in province of Helmand and sent a year in prison illegally. Shortly they arrested Arman Mile author, Tolo TV staff and Kabul Press Chief in Editor. Last action of intelligence service is arrestment of Parwiz, a young journalist in Balkh province.

Intelligence service keeps the local journalist in the same cell with the Al Qaeda and Taliban prisoners. Afghan Human Right Commission report and International Human Watch Right conformed the torture of prisons in Afghanistan Jails, which include journalist prisoners too.

Regarding specific description; Amrullah Saleh is the man, who is behind these torture and arrests of innocent journalists and reporters,

I am Chief in Editor of Kabul Press friendly requesting from all local medias and journalists to write and raise their voice against illegal reaction of Afghan intelligence service.

The Journalist without Borders commission made the list of the people around the world who are anti freedom of Press, isn’t the time to add Amrullah Saleh’s name too?

Why does America support a government that treats students and journalists like criminals for politically incorrect speech..? Or for printing out a paper that ‘insults Islam’?

The part about adding Amrullah Saleh to the list of people around the world who are against freedom of the Press is a good suggestion. I have several articles here on Saleh, I will update this post with the links later…but the bigger point is - it’s not just Saleh, it’s the government of Afghanistan that is backing him - and the American government by proxy.