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| Title | Presidential pardon for journalist who published translation of Koran |
| Publisher | Reporters Without Borders |
| Country | Afghanistan |
| Publication Date | 1 April 2010 |
| Cite as | Reporters Without Borders, Presidential pardon for journalist who published translation of Koran, 1 April 2010, available at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4bc2cd2e1e.html [accessed 4 June 2012] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Presidential pardon for journalist who published translation of Koran
Reporters Without Borders hails President Hamid Karzai's decision to pardon former journalist Ahmed Ghous Zalmai, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison in September 2008 for publishing a translation of the Koran into Dari (the Persian dialect spoken in Afghanistan).
Issued a few days ahead of the Persian New Year festival of Nawruz, the pardon also affects Mohammad Ateef Noori, the printer, and Qari Mushtaq, the mullah who approved the translation.
"President Karzai is repairing an injustice in which three men were severely punished for just wanting to promote understanding of the Koran within the Dari-speaking population," Reporters Without Borders said.
An Afghan culture ministry official confirmed to Reporters Without Borders that the three men have already been freed. International Pen, for its part, was able to speak to the Zalmai family after his release.
More information about Ahmed Ghous Zalmai: http://www.rsf.org/President-asked-...
Topics: Muslim, Freedom of expression,
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