Human Rights and Democracy - Official Documents

Television and radio stations, websites and the print media also continue to face
difficulties. In 2010 the Afghan cabinet ordered the closure of several news outlets in
contravention of the mass media law, which stipulates that all media violations
should be reported to, and resolved by, the newly established Mass Media
Commission. While the news outlets are now operating again, without full
implementation of the mass media law the Afghan media continues to operate in a
restricted space.
Freedom of religion and belief
In 2010 Afghan parliamentarians publicly called for the execution of Christian
converts. Several Afghans were subsequently imprisoned on charges of converting
to Christianity from Islam. Afghanistan remains a deeply conservative country, and
there is little public empathy for converts from Islam. Article 2 of the Afghan
constitution provides for freedom of religion and Afghan law does not criminalise
conversion, but the constitutional provision for Sharia law allows the death penalty
for conversion. The Afghan parliamentary debate on conversion followed the
screening on Afghan television of alleged footage of Afghans converting to
Christianity. As a result, two international aid NGOs were suspended and
investigated under suspicion of promoting Christianity. The organisations have now
been permitted to resume their work.
In 2010 we continued to press the Afghan government to implement fully the
provisions in the constitution and to uphold national and international human rights
obligations on freedom of religion and belief. We also supported projects that have
helped to promote religious tolerance and understanding. We ran a series of
successful exchanges between UK and Afghan religious leaders aimed at countering
radicalisation and building understanding of the compatibility of Christianity and
Islam. As part of this programme, a group of religious leaders from Helmand visited
London where they were impressed by the breadth of Muslim life and the diversity
and tolerance of British culture. We also funded a similar and successful study visit
to Egypt for a group of 10 Afghan religious leaders.
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