Afghanistan’s most outspoken human rights activist has been dropped from the national rights commission, President Hamid Karzai’s spokesman confirmed Friday. Nader Nadery had been working on a 1,000-page report documenting atrocities committed over the past three decades and many of those implicated are now in prominent positions of power. One rights campaigner described the decision as “another blow to the efforts for democracy and human rights” in Afghanistan.
Nadery, 36, made many enemies during his five-year term in the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, speaking out on issues including electoral fraud, corruption and abuse of power. The international community has put pressure on the country to stamp out widespread corruption and strengthen good governance. Karzai’s spokesman Aimal Faizi dismissed reports that Nadery has been fired. “He has not been fired, his five-year term was over and the president did not renew his term,” he said.
“The president according to the law can choose to not to renew the term of a commissioner and in Mr Nadery’s case this is what has happened. “We also dismiss reports that they have been fired over a report they were working which was said to be criticising government officials.” The decision not to renew his term was taken in a meeting attended by Karzai and senior officials Thursday, and another two of the nine commissioners, Fahim Hakim and Mawlawi Gharib, have also been let go, according to reports.
Nadery, who also runs the Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan, questioned the process by which he was dropped but declined to comment further. “I’ve not been notified officially yet,” he said. “But whatever happens we need to observe the proper processes and standards. “Anything that undermines the principles and procedures, that would result in weakening the independent institute of the human rights commission is not acceptable.” The commission was set up in 2002 and its members are appointed by the government, supposedly after consultations with human rights and civil society organisations.
