UN urges halt to death sentences in rape case

KABUL (Pajhwok): The United Nations human on Saturday urged the Afghan government to halt the death sentences in a case against a group of men charged with armed robbery, kidnapping and gang rape in Paghman a district.

A spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), addressing a news conference in Geneva, expressed disappointment the Appeal Court affirmed the death sentences given to five of the men.

A statement from UNAMA quoted Ravina Shamdasani as saying: “While this is a horrible crime, we have been concerned about the lack of due process and the failure to comply with national and international fair trial standards.”

She said the verdict denies proper justice to the victims and the accused. The decision also undermined the need for efforts to strengthen the rule of law and administration of justice in the country, she argued.

“We urge both Afghanistan’s outgoing and incoming presidents not to implement the death sentence in this case and refer the case back to courts given the due process concerns,” Shamdasani added.

pr/mud

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