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Jailing of Afghan journalist criticized

The conviction and announcement of a jail sentence for the editor of a women`s magazine in Afghanistan has been criticized by the United Nations. Put bluntly, the UN spokesman, Adrian Edwards said "We are certainly following it (the case) very closely."

Ali Mohaqiq Nasab was convicted Saturday after his magazine, Haqooq-i-Zan, or Women`s Rights, published a series of articles on Islam. One challenged a belief that Muslims who convert to other religions should be stoned to death - as sanctioned by some interpretations of sharia , or Islamic law - while another criticized the practice of punishing adultery with 100 lashes. Nasab has appealed the verdict.

The case underlines the fragility of press freedoms in Afghanistan`s nascent democracy. It also highlights a struggle between religious moderates and extremists over what form Islam will take in the country, very similar to the debate in Iraq over Islam`s place in the national hierarchy there. Under a revised March 2004 media law, content deemed insulting to Islam is banned.