Afghan student sentenced to death for downloading file

Sayed Pervez Kambaksh, a 23-year-old journalism student, was sentenced to death for downloading and distributing among his fellow students a document criticizing the customs of some Islamic countries, namely, the mistreatment of women. Afghan authorities accuse him of blasphemy. According to Islamic fundamentalists, such treatment of women is prescribed by the Koran.

The Shariah court (a religious court that punishes citizens for violating the laws of Islam) sentenced Syed to death in October last year. His case was not even considered in a civil court, and last week the country's Senate approved the verdict, so now nothing will save the guy, although Western journalist colleagues are collecting signatures in his defense. Moreover, the Afghan authorities have already warned other journalists that they too will be arrested if they dare to publicly speak for their comrade.

via Independent