Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KABUL3458
2007-10-10 08:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:
OCTOBER 7 EXECUTIONS; ALLIES DISMAYED, POPULACE
how-toVZCZCXRO5319 OO RUEHDBU RUEHPW DE RUEHBUL #3458 2830858 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 100858Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0835 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHXP/ALL NATO POST COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 4236 RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 003458
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA.FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A,
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC FOR JWOOD
OSD FOR KIMMETT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM AF
SUBJECT: OCTOBER 7 EXECUTIONS; ALLIES DISMAYED, POPULACE
APPROVES
Classified By: Classified by A/DCM Carol Rodley for Reasons 1.4 (a) and
(b).
C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 003458
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA.FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A,
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC FOR JWOOD
OSD FOR KIMMETT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM AF
SUBJECT: OCTOBER 7 EXECUTIONS; ALLIES DISMAYED, POPULACE
APPROVES
Classified By: Classified by A/DCM Carol Rodley for Reasons 1.4 (a) and
(b).
1. (SBU) The Afghan government executed 15 convicted
criminals on the grounds of the Ministry of Justice-run
Pol-I-Charki prison outside Kabul October 7. All had
received their death sentences for a variety of serious
non-political crimes, including murder; all were multiple
offenders. None of those executed had been transferred from
Coalition custody. The executions were carried out,
reportedly, with regrettable ineptness, by Afghan National
Police. A sixteenth condemned prisoner, who was convicted of
the abduction of an Italian human rights worker, managed to
escape the confused circumstances of the actual execution
site and is still at large. The 15 may be the first tranche
of 60 prisoners slated for execution over the next several
days. President Karzai told the Ambassador he had personally
approved the execution warrant. Under the current
constitution, the only previous execution was of Abdullah
Shah, a former military commander convicted of murder. Shah
was executed April 19, 2004.
2. (C) The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission
publicly criticized the executions. Commissioner Mohammad
Farid told POLOFF that the prisonersQ, cases had not been
properly reviewed by the courts and that the warrant violated
proper sentencing procedure. EU Coalition partners told the
Ambassador October 9 that they will deliver a joint demarche
to the MFA condemning the executions. During an October 9
MFA briefing to the diplomatic corps, Coalition partner
chiefs of mission engaged FM Spanta repeatedly on the
executions. In his unenthusiastic defense of the sentences,
Spanta betrayed the political calculation behind the
executions. He noted that Afghan citizens have been
complaining loudly to Karzai about their growing sense of
insecurity and, particularly, their personal vulnerability to
crime. Karzai, Spanta said, wants to restore citizen
confidence by demonstrating his unyielding toughness with
serious offenders.
3. (SBU) Comment: The word on KabulQ,s streets, as reported
in the press and confirmed by our FSNs, suggests KarzaiQ,s
calculation may be spot on. Far from recoiling from the
harshness and suddenness of the sentences, average Afghans,
mindful of Sharia endorsement of capital punishment, are
applauding the executions and would welcome more. Karzai may
be emboldened by popular approval, and by an opportunity to
demonstrate his disregard for Western criticism, to sign more
warrants.
WOOD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA.FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A,
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC FOR JWOOD
OSD FOR KIMMETT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM AF
SUBJECT: OCTOBER 7 EXECUTIONS; ALLIES DISMAYED, POPULACE
APPROVES
Classified By: Classified by A/DCM Carol Rodley for Reasons 1.4 (a) and
(b).
1. (SBU) The Afghan government executed 15 convicted
criminals on the grounds of the Ministry of Justice-run
Pol-I-Charki prison outside Kabul October 7. All had
received their death sentences for a variety of serious
non-political crimes, including murder; all were multiple
offenders. None of those executed had been transferred from
Coalition custody. The executions were carried out,
reportedly, with regrettable ineptness, by Afghan National
Police. A sixteenth condemned prisoner, who was convicted of
the abduction of an Italian human rights worker, managed to
escape the confused circumstances of the actual execution
site and is still at large. The 15 may be the first tranche
of 60 prisoners slated for execution over the next several
days. President Karzai told the Ambassador he had personally
approved the execution warrant. Under the current
constitution, the only previous execution was of Abdullah
Shah, a former military commander convicted of murder. Shah
was executed April 19, 2004.
2. (C) The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission
publicly criticized the executions. Commissioner Mohammad
Farid told POLOFF that the prisonersQ, cases had not been
properly reviewed by the courts and that the warrant violated
proper sentencing procedure. EU Coalition partners told the
Ambassador October 9 that they will deliver a joint demarche
to the MFA condemning the executions. During an October 9
MFA briefing to the diplomatic corps, Coalition partner
chiefs of mission engaged FM Spanta repeatedly on the
executions. In his unenthusiastic defense of the sentences,
Spanta betrayed the political calculation behind the
executions. He noted that Afghan citizens have been
complaining loudly to Karzai about their growing sense of
insecurity and, particularly, their personal vulnerability to
crime. Karzai, Spanta said, wants to restore citizen
confidence by demonstrating his unyielding toughness with
serious offenders.
3. (SBU) Comment: The word on KabulQ,s streets, as reported
in the press and confirmed by our FSNs, suggests KarzaiQ,s
calculation may be spot on. Far from recoiling from the
harshness and suddenness of the sentences, average Afghans,
mindful of Sharia endorsement of capital punishment, are
applauding the executions and would welcome more. Karzai may
be emboldened by popular approval, and by an opportunity to
demonstrate his disregard for Western criticism, to sign more
warrants.
WOOD