LATEST

• 23.1.2010 |  

  Silence for Afshar

  

  On 12 February 2009, human rights activists, students and the youth commemorated the anniversary of the Afshar Massacre in Kabul. The group which was spontaneously organized marched from Pol-e Sokhta area of Kabul city towards the Afshar neighborhood carrying placards calling for justice. This is the fourth year that the anniversary is commemorated by civil society in Kabul.
  In the final stage of the event, at the site of the mass grave of victims of Afshar massacre, Asadullah Ahmadi, Abdul Jalil Benish and Mirza Hussain Abdullahi spoke for the audience. It was also decided that further elimination of the evidences of the massacre must be stopped and a minaret be built at the site of the mass grave.
  English      Dari
  

  
  
• 23.1.2010 |  

  Do Not Sacrifice the Victims:
  Justice, a Prerequisite for Lasting Peace

  Proposals of Co-ordination Group on Transitional Justice in Afghanistan to participants at the London Conference

  The Co-ordination Group on Transitional Justice in Afghanistan (CGTJ), comprising of 24 national and international civil society organizations working for human rights and defending the rights of war victims, believes that a lasting peace can only happen in Afghanistan if the prevailing culture of impunity is ended and respect for the rule of law is established. CGTJ calls on the government of Afghanistan and the International community to take action on the following issues: ...
  
  English      Dari
  

  
  
• 21.11.2009 |  

  A Report on Afghanistan Obligations under International Criminal Court (ICC)

  

  “Afghanistan Watch” has newly started its activities as the Afghan member of the Coalition for International Criminal Court (CICC). The first activity of Afghanistan Watch was organizing a consultative meeting titled as “Obligations of Afghanistan under ICC” which was held on October 24, 2009 in Roby Hall of the City Center/ Kabul, Afghanistan. The meeting was attended by representatives of Afghanistan justice and judicial sectors, civil society organizations, legal experts and representatives of international human rights organizations.

  A full report is available here at:
   Download:       English      Dari
  

  
  
• 21.11.2009 |  

  International Criminal Court in Afghanistan

  

  Dr. Sima Samar: Six years have past since Afghanistan has ratified (ICC). But this country hasn’t been able to benefit from (ICC) in securing justice. To achieve this objective cooperation of government and civil institutions as well as institutions working for victims’ protection is needed. Thus, we can use from this international mechanism and take effective measures.

  Presentation of Dr. Sima Sama, Head of Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission in Consultative Meeting on Obligation of Afghanistan under(ICC)
  
  Read More:        English      Dari

  
  
• 21.11.2009 |  

  Afghanistan National Laws
  and International Criminal Court Statute

  

  Mr. Mohammad Yosuf Haleem: I would like to announce on behalf of the Ministry of Justice that during reviewing of the criminal laws of Afghanistan we will invite Afghanistan Watch as representative of international coalition for ICC and other relevant organizations to share their comments regarding the amended as well as the new drafts.

  Presentation of Mr. Mohammad Yosuf Haleem, Head of Taqnin(legislation) Department of Ministry of Justice of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Consultative Meeting on Obligation of Afghanistan under(ICC)
  
  Read More:        English      Dari

  
  
• 21.11.2009 |  

  Afghanistan and International Criminal Court:
  (ICC) Commitments and Duties

  

  Dr. Haider Allamah: the people of Afghanistan warmly welcome the launch of ICC and ask the Afghan government to fulfill its obligations under the Statute at the earliest convenience and gain its international status as a committed and responsible member of the court. Had this court been established years ago, perhaps Afghanistan atrocities during internal power- struggles and under Taliban ruling would not have happened.

  Presentation of Dr. Haider Allamah, Dean of Law Faculty of Kateb Institute of Higher Education and an Afghan Lead International Criminal Law Expert in Consultative Meeting on Obligation of Afghanistan under(ICC)
  
  Read More:        English      Dari

  
  
• 31.10.2009 |  

  The National Reconciliation Charter of the National Assembly Not Undermining Transitional Justice

  

  On August 26 2009, Ali Payam of Afghanistan Watch sat with Mr. Mawlawi Arsalan Rahmani a member of the Upper House of the National Assembly and an important figure in negotiations between the Afghan State and the armed opposition groups. Mr. Rahmani had served as Deputy Minister of Higher Education in the Taliban Government. During the interview Mr. Rahmani has talked about the National Reconciliation Charter of the National Assembly and negotiations and reconciliation with the armed opposition groups and the challenges and difficulties involved.
  
  Arsalan Rahmani: I have many times proposed that a gathering be organized at the center of Paktiya in which all the Hazara elders and victims of wars are invited and we should apologize from them and the other day the same ceremony should be organized in Behsood, Charikar and …. The ulema should take the Holy Qura’an and some women and confess that there have been mistakes and we will not repeat it. There are many ways.
  
  Read More:        English      Dari

  
  
• 16.09.2009 |  

  Security is not about the end of war only

  

  Ali Payam of Afghanistan Watch interviewed Miss Sima Samar, the Head of Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) on 31 Sep 2009. The transcript below shows the responses of Miss. Sima Samar to the challenging questions raised about the process of transitional justice in Afghanistan.
  
  Sima Samar: I think it might be true. However the implementation of transitional justice does not mean that we imprison people or hang them, but they should confess that they committed the crimes or mistakes, apologize from from the people and secede from power. It is not necessary that they are appointed as governors. The perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity need not be police chiefs. As we can not build trust between people and state and if there be no trust between government and people our government can never have the public support. And when any government lacks public support the condition of people will not get better and at that time there will be injustices.
  
  Read More:        English      Dari

  
  
• 28.08.2009 |  

  Sooner or later the criminals will be brought the court

  

  As parts of its interview series, Ali Payam of Afghanistan Watch interviewed Mr. Sebghatullah Sanjar the Head of Policy and Transitional Justice Focal Point of the President’s Office. As the transcript below shows, a number of challenging questions including on the failure of the Afghan state to implement the process were discussed during this interview.
  
  Sanjar: The implementation of transitional justice that was due to put into effect until 2009 was not implemented. I responsibly say unless there is a strong executive force and government with a strong legislative force in Afghanistan and the people are encouraged towards national solidarity and reconciliation we can never be able to implement the action plan of government.
  
  Read More:        English      Dari

  
  
• 25.08.2009 |  

  Transitional justice is a political project

  

  On August, 5 2009 Ali Payam of Afghanistan Watch sat with Mr. Hafiz Mansur Editor-in-Chief of Payam Mujaheed Weekly and a former member of Jamiat-e Islami Afghanistan to discuss transitional justice and reconciliation. As you can see below Mansur argues against the process of transitional justice seeing it as politically motivated and dealing with internal perpetrators of crimes and human rights violations in Afghanistan.
  
  Mansur: I believe we have misused the beautiful word justice by transitional justice. Although everyone favors justice; however transitional justice is a political project and they want to suppress their political rivals. This project will bring tensions and uprisings instead of establishing security. I believe this project has brought no benefit for our people; instead it has been a controversial and divisive project for today and tomorrow of our country.
  
  Read More:        English      Dari

  
  
• 16.08.2009 |  

  No Peace without Social Trust

  

  The following is the text of an interview with Mahboob Ullah Koshani, a presidential candidate for 2009 election and the leader of Azadagan Party of Afghanistan.
  
  Koshani: The main violators of human rights should be brought into justice, first, to prevent future crimes, second to restore the honour of victims, third, to caress the victims and to create national solidarity. However the president has said in one of his speeches that talking about transitional justice is like wearing fashionable clothes.
  
  Read More:        English      Dari

  
  
• 15.08.2009 |  

  Justice Is the Foundation of a Fair and Lasting Peace

  

  What follows is an interview with Habib Mangal a presidential candidate of the Inclusive Democracy and Progress Party of Afghanistan.
  
  Habib Mangal: Our country is in a critical situation and it is in the interest of our country that Afghans sit together and put aside all ideological, political and other differences and think to save their country.
  
  Read More:        English      Dari

  
  
• 17.08.2009 |  

  Justice Is Permanent Not Transitional

  

  The following is the text of an interview with Dr.Ramazan Bashardost, a leading presidential candidate and a former minister of planning.
  
  Bashardost: Killing does not end in Afghanistan by killing. Hanging with hanging or torture with torture can not end in Afghanistan. Some one says he has tortured my child so I also should torture him. It is important that the criminals feel sorry for their deeds publicly through radio and television. The destructions should be compensated. Then we must decide whether the family of victims want the trial of culprits or forgive them.
  
  Read More:        English      Dari

  
  
• 12.08.2009 |  

  I am afraid of another injustice for the sake of justice

  

  What follows is an interview with Shahnawaz Tanai, a presidential candidate and a former minister of defense in 1980s.
  
  Shahnawaz Tanai: There have been many mistakes since the monarchy but with one difference. Some committed few mistakes and some more. We want reconciliation and without reconciliation peace and security will not come. So how can we demand reconciliation on one hand and transitional justice on the other? There are violators of human rights in the government and parliament, why they are not questioned for their deeds? I believe the people of Afghanistan must come together and solve their problems jointly.
  
  Read More:        English      Dari

  
  
• 10.08.2009 |  

  We need International Court to Implement Transitional Justice

  

  The following are the text of interviews with Ahmad Bashir Bizhan, and Frozan Fana, presidential candidates on 5 and 9 August respectively. During the interviews Ali Payam of Afghanistan Watch asked their views and plans on past crimes, corruption, negotiation with the anti-government forces and transparency in the electoral process.
  
  Read More:        English      Dari

  
  
• 17.07.2009 |  

  Alleged War Criminals in the Final List of Election Candidates: AIHRC and UNAMA

  

  Human rights and civil society organizations have voiced concerns over the presence of alleged war criminals and perpetrators of human rights violations in the final list of candidates for Presidential and Provincial Council elections scheduled to be held on 20 August this year. Read More

  
  
  
• 10.12.2008 |  

  Between Impunity And Accountability

  

  A comparative overview of transitional justice processes in two post-Conflict South Asian Countries: Nepal and Afghanistan.

  Old social tensions and rifts characteristics of these multi-ethnic societies were reopened, intensified and politically exploited as ideological and political groups tried to establish social bases and claim political and ideological legitimacy in their bids for power and supremacy. As a result, the two countries face the daunting challenges of rebuilding social trust, healing the wounds of war, violence and massive human rights violations and finding common ground and roots in their painful histories, in order to break with the past and consolidate the fragile peace, stability and recently built-democratic structures.
  
   Download:       English      Dari
  
  

• 20.02.2007 |  

  Transitional justice in Afghanistan; end or new beginning?

  

  An Analysis on the Implications of Transitional Justice on Afghanistan's Passage towards Stability

  During the five years not only nothing took place but also some of the people who are accused of crimes, were protected and put at high places in the government. Some of these people are even now persecuting people. This issue has caused some people to develop complexes and join the opposition; the attack on commander Khano in Helmand cost the lives of 23 other people is one of these instances
  
   Download:       English      Dari
  
  

• 14.02.2007 |  

  Afshar and then nothing else

  

  My two brothers were killed at Afshar. One of my brothers was killed beside the shrine of Shahid Ismael Balkhi as the result of shooting from Kafar-Koh a month before the Afshar massacre while he was carrying a wounded child to the hospital and the other was killed in the Afshar massacre. I will not forget my brothers murder till the day of my death. We will never forgive the murderers. If the parliament of Afghanistan wants to forgive the murderers of my brothers, this will be betrayal. I will never accept it. Khan Mohammad (not his real name). Afshar village. February 11th 2007.
  
   Download:       English      Dari
  
  

• 23.12.2006 |  

  Only shedding tears is not enough

  

  Mr. Sayaf calls reports of the AIHRC, HRW and other human rights activists accusing him of human rights violations, partial. He has not addressed the criticisms, concerns and accusations of the victims families and those who have lost their limbs in the massacre. By Abdul Jalil Benish the SALSAL WEEKLY (Kabul) December23, 2006
  
   Download:       English      Dari
  
  

Based in Kabul, the Afghanistan Watch focuses on activities that promote justice, respect for human rights and a culture of accountability and transparency in the country. Recognizing the need for greater understanding of the perils and opportunities facing Afghanistan today, the organization aims to conduct in-depth research and publish reports and papers on issues relevant to its goals and values independently or in partnership with other national and international organizations.

Sign up below if you wish to receive our publications and news about our programmes, events and other relevant developments.

International Relations and Security Network(ISN) / Security Watch
14 December 2009

Middle East Institute Viewpoints: Afghanistan, 1979-2009: In the Grip of Conflict • www.mei.edu
By: Abdul Jalil Benish, director of Afghanistan Watch

Impunity in Afghanistan is like an unwritten law which benefits the wealthiest and most powerful criminals.Read More

Niamatullah Ibrahimi, Co-Founder of Afghanistan Watch writes on The Relevance of the ICC in the Context of Afghanistan in the ICC Monitor, the Journal of the Coalition of the International Criminal Court

The relevance of the ICC has been keenly felt in Afghanistan since 2001. During this period, human rights violations have continued unabated, a culture of impunity and lack of accountability has been further entrenched, and the Afghan state has displayed a chronic lack of commitment to hold accountable those responsible for heinous crimes and massive human rights abuses.
Read More