WAR IS PEACE; FREEDOM IS SLAVERY; IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH - updated

Reuters photo via the Independent

Chris in Paris posted a note at Americablog about a journalist sentenced to death for downloading a report on women's rights:

Afghanistan is sentencing a journalist to death because he downloaded and distributed a report on women's rights. Is this the government that we're propping up with our soldiers and tax dollars? I understand that different cultures have different views but this is so incredibly against everything we stand for as a country. Is this really the kind of government we want to support?

You may read more at the UK Independent article, including how you may join their petition on behalf of Sayed Pervez Kambaksh. The Independent notes:

The Independent is launching a campaign today to secure justice for Mr Kambaksh. The UN, human rights groups, journalists' organisations and Western diplomats have urged Mr Karzai's government to intervene and free him. But the Afghan Senate passed a motion yesterday confirming the death sentence.

The MP who proposed the ruling condemning Mr Kambaksh was Sibghatullah Mojaddedi, a key ally of Mr Karzai. The Senate also attacked the international community for putting pressure on the Afghan government and urged Mr Karzai not to be influenced by outside un-Islamic views.

[emphasis mine]

We sure are making a difference in the Middle East and Central Asia.

UPDATE:

For several other brief updates on Afghanistan, check out Juan Cole here.  None of it is encouraging, of course.
--the BB