Afghanistan blocks free speech

[Behind the Aegis]

KABUL, Afghanistan, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- The conviction of an Afghan magazine publisher on blasphemy charges has had a chilling effect on other Afghan journalists, the Washington Post reported.

Rahimullah Samander, director of the Center for International Journalism here, told the newspaper Ali Mohaqeq Naseb's conviction threatens to erode freedoms achieved since the fall of the Taliban in 2001.

Nasab's case has ignited fierce debate over free speech in the rapidly modernizing country that remains deeply rooted in traditional Islamic culture and extremely sensitive about issues of religion and the role of women, the newspaper said.

Afghan courts and conservative clerics say Nasab contravened the teachings of Islam by printing essays that questioned legal discrimination against women, harsh physical punishments for criminals and rigid intolerance of Muslims who abandon their faith.

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[Erika]

1. W's Afghanistan

Not too friendly to women. Standard GOP message.

[Selteri]

2. Yes, we can see how much he's really bringing

democracy and freedom to that opium rich country.