United Nations Radio

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed dismay over Afghanistan's execution of prisoners over the last four days, and is urging the Afghan government to halt any further planned executions.

The five prisoners to have been executed so far are the first state-implemented executions in Afghanistan since October last year, when the Government carried out death sentences on 15 prisoners. Up to that point, the Government had observed an unofficial moratorium on the death penalty since 2004.

Rupert Colville, the spokesperson for the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said while recognizing the severity of the crimes with which the prisoners have been charged, it is important to stress that law enforcement and judicial systems in Afghanistan in their current state fall far short of internationally accepted standards guaranteeing due process and fair trials.

"Misconduct by the police and the judiciary has been well documented, and under these circumstances there is obviously a grave risk that there will be miscarriages of justice and that innocent people may be executed."

The spokesperson said the High Commissioner's office had received reports that the government plans to execute more prisoners over the coming days. The High Commissioner urged President Karzai to rejoin the growing international consensus for a moratorium on the death penalty, reflected in last year's General Assembly resolution in which more than 100 states joined the call for a worldwide moratorium.

Diane Bailey United Nations.

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