The principles of free speech and free media are
enshrined in the Afghan constitution and the mass media law. However, while the mass media law was passed
in 2008 by the Afghan parliament and published in 2009, it has yet to be fully
implemented. Journalists continued to
face intimidation and restrictions.
Television and radio stations, websites and the print
media also continue to face difficulties.
In 2010 the Afghan cabinet ordered the closure of several news outlets
in contravention of the mass media law, which stipulates that all media
violations should be reported to, and resolved by, the newly established Mass
Media Commission. While the news outlets
are now operating again, without full implementation of the mass media law the
Afghan media continues to operate in a restricted space.
Freedom of religion
and belief
In
2010 Afghan parliamentarians publicly called for the execution of Christian
converts. Several Afghans were
subsequently imprisoned on charges of converting to Christianity from
Islam. Afghanistan remains a deeply
conservative country, and there is little public empathy for converts from
Islam. Article 2 of the Afghan
constitution provides for freedom of religion and Afghan law does not
criminalise conversion, but the constitutional provision for Sharia law allows
the death penalty for conversion. The
Afghan parliamentary debate on conversion followed the screening on Afghan
television of alleged footage of Afghans converting to Christianity. As a result, two international aid NGOs were
suspended and investigated under suspicion of promoting Christianity. The organisations have now been permitted to
resume their work.
In
2010 we continued to press the Afghan government to implement fully the
provisions in the constitution and to uphold national and international human
rights obligations on freedom of religion and belief.
We also supported projects that have helped
to promote religious tolerance and understanding. We ran a series of successful exchanges
between UK and Afghan religious leaders aimed at countering radicalisation and
building understanding of the compatibility of Christianity and Islam. As part of this programme, a group of religious
leaders from Helmand visited London where they were impressed by the breadth of
Muslim life and the diversity and tolerance of British culture. We also funded a similar and successful study
visit to Egypt for a group of 10 Afghan religious leaders.
