Author: Sayed Hussain Hussainy

In the name of Almighty Allah Statement of CSHRN in relation to the limitation of freedom of media in Afghanistan Kabul, Afghanistan / 23. April 2008 Since a long time, a debate is going on about banning Indian series from Afghan private TV channels what in fact has to be regarded as an excuse to start limiting the freedom of media. Such an untimely debate creates big concerns amongst civil society organizations and Afghan citizens about their civil freedoms. They are scared that Afghanistan once again becomes a victim of extremism, a development which would be very difficult and economically as well as humanly very costly to correct. Afghanistan has taken first steps towards cultural freedoms, which make Afghanistan a positive example among countries affected by conflict. Cultural and civil freedoms are essential to the Afghan people and therefore any limitation of them would put obstacles in the way of reconstruction and development. The Afghan Constitution guaranties human rights; promotes civil rights, freedom of media and freedom of culture. These rights and freedoms are also guaranteed by media law derived from the constitution. Therefore, there is no legal reason to limit the freedom of media in Afghanistan. The state of Afghanistan ratified the International Conventions on Civil and Political Rights, and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which constitute the main instruments of the United Nations in the field of international human rights protection. For this reason, there is international legal support for Afghanistan and Afghan citizens. The Afghan state as member of the UN has committed itself also to the Charta of the UN. The UN Charta, which promotes international peace and security, requests its member states to respect human rights and democracy. The Civil Society and Human Rights Network (CSHRN), who is coordinating civil society organizations active…

In the name of Almighty Allah Civil Society and Human Rights Network (CSHRN) Statement Concerning the death penalty of the Afghan Journalist Mr. Parwais Kambakhsh January 24th 2008 The Afghan Journalist Mr. Parwais Kambakhsh has been sentenced to death by the local court in Mazar e Sharif without a proper investigation, what constitutes a violation of legal proceedings. This violation has a bad influence on the civil society and on human rights activists in Afghanistan, especially in the Northern region of the country. Afghan citizens, whose civil and political rights are guaranteed by the Afghan constitution and international laws, should not become victims of political and illegal prosecution. The civil society and human rights network calls for the Afghan state, the international community and all social and political institutions and organizations for protection and support to the Afghan citizens in this kind of circumstances. We ask that justice and rule of law are respected according to the national and international standards. According to the Afghan constitution, the Afghan state is responsible to protect and ensure civil and political as well as economic, social and cultural rights of the Afghan citizens. CSHRN, which is composed of 60 human rights NGOs, asks the Afghan state to fulfill those obligations in accordance with the Afghan constitution, the international convention on civil and political rights and the international convention on economic, social and cultural rights. The CSHRN with its high respect for religious values - what is illustrated by the fact, that justice, respect and fairness are the main principles of the network, - calls upon spiritual leaders to support Afghan citizens in their request for the implementation of the above mentioned norms. CSHRN Steering Committee

In the name of Almighty Allah Civil Society and Human Rights Network Press Release on the illegal action of the Afghan police against Afghan Journalists of Tolo TV April 2007 On April 17th Afghan Police, upon the (oral) recommendation of the General Prosecutor of Afghanistan , attacked Tolo TV. The police arrested the Chief Editor, the Legal Advisor and a journalist of TV station after having beaten and insulted them. Moreover, the journalist was released after some hours. Civil Society and Human Rights Network (CSHRN) strongly condemns this illegal action. CSHRN believes that such illegal actions will badly damage the process of democratization, the establishment of rule of law, freedom of speech, and civil society in Afghanistan . According to CSHRN this violent act of the Afghan police violates international human rights standards and infringes the Afghan Constitution. CSHRN calls on the Afghan State to cause an investigation to be made. The Afghan State is obliged to inquire the reasons for this act violating freedom of expression and to bring the responsible persons to justice. CSHRN believes that this illegal action in the current precarious period of time would undermine democracy, human rights culture and civil society values. CSHRN calls upon the international community and the international media to support media and freedom of speech in Afghanistan in the present critical period of time. Civil Society & Human Rights Network's member organizations

In the name of Almighty Allah Civil Society & Human Rights Network (CSHRN) press release concerning the killing of innocent civilians caused by ISAF and NATO shootings during a terrorist suicide bombing attack 07 March 2007-Kabul Afghanistan On Sunday in Nangarhar province, and on Monday in Kapisa province, international peace keeping troops after they had been attacked by a suicide bomber, shoot randomly around them and killed and injured number of innocent people. Terrorists and Taliban for own strategic purposes use civilian houses as entrenchment and shield. Due to clashes lots of Afghani civilians die. In this very important period of time, the Afghan state, and the international community are facing one most important challenge, to fight terror with the minimum killing of innocent and civilian Afghans. If the international and Afghan troops do not deal with this issue in a professional way, social dissatisfaction and violence will sprawl amongst Afghans. Such a social violence would lead Afghanistan into an unpredictable condition where control of the consequences would become impossible. The Civil Society and Human Rights Network (CSHRN) that consists of 58 organizations urges the international peacekeepers operating under the umbrella of ISAF-NATO, Afghan state troops, and all international actors to respect and prioritize individual and social security of Afghan citizens during their military operations. The CSHRN believes that the respect of the right to life is the main precondition for promoting human rights and values. It should be strictly respected and such bloodshed of innocent people avoided. CSHRN member organizations

In the name of Almighty Allah Civil Society and Human Rights Network (CSHRN) Announcement In connection with the latest decision of National Assembly 31 January 2007 Afghanistan as one of the most vulnerable countries in the world from the view point of the continued calamities arising from conflicts, war and human crimes, violations of accepted international human rights, cultural, political and social treaties, once again comes under new crisis and threatens the new opportunities gained with much problems and sufferings. The innocent people of Afghanistan who are the main victims of these crimes were excluded from participating while member of Wolesi Jirga were deciding upon impunity of war criminals. On 21 January 2007 , the National Assembly of Afghanistan approved a new charter under the name of Conciliation and National Stability. The charter by the Afghan parliament which legalizes the safety against the past crimes in Afghanistan is a strong blow over the infant body of democracy, human rights values and ensuring the rule of law in this country. Approval of this decision is against the customs of international laws, the four humanitarian conventions based on the responsibilities of the states towards the citizens under the oppressions of war and internal and regional disputes, international treaties of civil and political rights, international statement of human rights and the human rights values. On the other hand the approval of this decision brings under question the justice process and integration of legal governance in the government and severely damages the civil society values. Rule of law is based on justice principles. Ensuring justice is a precondition for ensuring democracy and the expansion of the role of people in the national governance, security, peace and stability. We can learn this principle from the prominent examples of international communities. The approval of…