HUMAN RIGHTS IN AFGHANISTAN

Early day motion 1857, tabled 13 July 2009 by Paul Flynn (Labour). Signed by 26 members.

That this House condemns the deteriorating human rights record of President Karzai; regrets his refusal to pardon a young man sentenced to 20 years in prison for accessing an internet article on women's rights, while pardoning a group of young men guilty of gang-raping a 13 year old girl; notes his support for a new law that legalises marital rape; applauds the suspended Afghan woman MP and human rights' prize winner Malalai Joya who said that the rights of women in Afghanistan now are worse than under the Taliban; and regrets NATO's uncritical support of Karzai's regime.

Signatures by party: Labour 16, Liberal Democrat 5, Independent 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, DUP 1.