Hamid Karzai, the President of Afghanistan, ordered the release of two imprisoned journalists but did not revoke the blasphemy charges against them. Mr. Karzai stated that freedom of the press does not mean that one can attack the beliefs and convictions of millions. Seyyed Mir Hassan Mahdavi, the editor of the weekly Aftab, and his Iranian deputy, Ali Payam Sistani, were arrested and imprisoned last week. The Supreme Court of Afghanistan deemed an article written by the two as offensive to Islam and ordered the suspension of the weekly. The two imprisoned journalists were released today following criticisms from the United Nations and press freedom advocacy groups regarding their detention, but they are expected to appear in court to respond to the charges against them.
Release of Two Imprisoned Journalists in Afghanistan - 2003-06-25
Two journalists in Afghanistan were released after international criticism, but they still face blasphemy charges. Hamid Karzai emphasized that press freedom does not allow for attacks on religious beliefs. This incident highlights ongoing tensions between freedom of expression and religious sensitivities in Afghanistan.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Afghan President Hamid Karzai ordered the release of two journalists imprisoned on blasphemy charges but maintained the charges. The journalists had been criticized for an article deemed offensive to Islam.
- The journalists were released following international criticism.
- They still face blasphemy charges and are expected to appear in court.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Afghanistan's legal system often grapples with balancing modern press freedoms and traditional religious laws, a common issue in the region.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%