Amnesty International Calls on Afghan Authorities to Investigate Human Rights Violations by the Government
January 25, 2011
(Washington, D.C.) — The Afghan government must investigate thousands of allegations of human rights violations, criminal activity and electoral fraud by members of the country’s parliament, which begins its second term on January 26, 2011, Amnesty International said.
“We fear that the criminals and warlords in the Afghan parliament and government could keep getting away with human rights abuses unless they answer to the ongoing investigations,” said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific director.
At least 40 parliamentarians are accused of serious human rights abuses while serving, including murder, kidnapping, extortion, intimidation of activists and journalists, and election related violence.
Dozens of members face credible allegations of war crimes like attacks on civilian targets and massacres committed during Afghanistan’s long-running civil conflict.
Amnesty International is urging the Afghan authorities to continue investigation of human rights violations committed by parliamentarians, by the Electoral Complaints Commission and the Afghan judiciary, without recourse to parliamentary immunity.
“There are a number of brave parliamentarians who strive to represent the interests of the Afghan people and push for a better, more just government, but unfortunately they are outnumbered by those with little respect for the rights and demands of their constituents," said Zarifi.
President Karzai had delayed the parliamentary inauguration, demanding that parliamentarians submit to his own special tribunal for investigating widespread claims of fraud during the September elections.
“Karzai’s special tribunal has no legal basis and seems designed to pack Parliament with his supporters rather than to fairly and properly assess the conduct of candidates,” continued Zarifi. “In this stand-off, the right answer is to stick to the rule of law, not bend it for the sake of political advantage.”
“For the last four months a parliament full of human rights violators has been pitted against a president trying to circumvent legal checks on his power," Zarifi said. "The losers have been the Afghan people."
The Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) received nearly 6,000 complaints, including more than 2,700 that the United Nations termed “serious” enough to affect the outcome of the polling. Some 2,300 complaints were registered against the candidates and their agents, and more than 700 complaints of intimidation and violence.
“Credible investigations by the ECC will be vital for bringing much needed legitimacy to this new parliament,” said Zarifi. “And if there are more serious allegations of human rights abuses by sitting members of Parliament, the Afghan judiciary needs to provide justice and redress to the victims.”
“Both Karzai and the parliament have squandered their public legitimacy because of their poor record of performance and their failure to provide responsive, responsible, accountable governance.”
Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 3 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.
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