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KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct 4, 2005 (UPI via COMTEX) -- An Afghan editor of a woman's rights magazine was arrested for publishing what officials said was an article containing blasphemous remarks about Islam.
Ali Mohaqiq Nasab was arrested after his magazine published an article questioning the strict interpretation of Islamic law regarding penalties for theft and adultery, the BBC reported Tuesday.
Afghan law says it is illegal to print remarks deemed insulting to Islam. However, journalists cannot be arrested until a specially appointed media commission has reviewed the case.
The article in Hoqooq-i-Zan (Women's Rights) monthly magazine reportedly caught the attention of President Hamid Karzai's religious advisers, who then called for Nasab's arrest.
The US media rights group, Committee to Protect Journalists, condemned the arrest, saying it was part of a "pattern" of abuses against the Afghan media.
"We are disturbed by this arrest, which reflects a recent pattern of deteriorating press freedom conditions in Afghanistan," the CPJ said in a statement.
URL: www.upi.com Copyright 2005 by United Press International
