The British newspaper The Independent has taken up the cause of Sayed Pervez Kambaksh, the Afghan student journalist sentenced to death after being accused of downloading an Internet report on women’s rights.

Their online petition is now over 60,000 signatures and the British government, has voiced its concerns.

Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, promised yesterday to raise his case personally with the Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, which would significantly raise the international pressure for his release.(story here)

The UN’s most senior human rights official, Canadian, Louise Arbour, added to the international campaign by writing to senior Afghan officials last weekend, “reminding them of their responsibilities” under the country’s constitution, which enshrines freedom of speech.

…has anyone seen this story in Canadian media or mentioned by our journalism organizations?

Link to Independent storys

Someone remind me again why Canadians are shedding blood to defend and prop up this government? It’s obvious that those in government are no different than the Taliban. War lords, religious extremists and the ignorant barbarians are the same …in government or out. Maybe the Taliban is not real problem.