Students protest death sentence for killer of French troops
27 November, 2012
JALALABAD: Students of Nangarhar University on Monday staged a peaceful protest against the death penalty awarded to an Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier for killing five French troops. Abdul Saboor was recently convicted of shooting dead five French soldiers and wounding 18 others in central Kapisa province on January 20. Last week, a military court sentenced him to death. Speaking to Pajhwok Afghan News, one protestor, Farhad, demanded that Saboor's sentence be overturned and a US soldier who killed 18 civilians in the Panjwai district of southern Kandahar province earlier this year brought to justice. He said: "They want to execute an ANA soldier for killing only five foreigners, but don't treat the American, who killed so many innocent civilians, in a similar way." He alleged that Afghan operated under the influence of foreigners. After burning the US flag in the Daronta area, the protestors issued a declaration, denouncing the military court verdict as well as deadly Israeli attacks on Palestinians. The students, chanting slogans against Afghan courts, also blocked the busy Kabul-Jalalabad highway for an hour. Last week, the authorities executed 14 death-row prisoners in two groups, including several Taliban. Saboor is said to be included in a third group of inmaes whose execution warrants have been approved by President Karzai. End.
|
