Release of Hezbi Islami inmates spurs outrage

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AT-KABUL: The Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) says that the government would trample justice by freeing the Hezb-e-Islami inmates unless the victims of their attacks and their families are convinced.

The commission expressed serious concerns Wednesday over the unconditional release of the Hezb-e-Islami prisoners, saying such releases could not help for a durable peace without convincing the survivors of the victims of the attacks by the party.

“This is unfair to release these inmates without making the families of the victims either from any side and without precise prosecutions. If we try to trample justice under the pretext of peace, this would be mistake and peace would not come,” said Sima Samar, chairwoman for the commission.

The government announced on Monday that 269 inmates from the Hezb-e-Islami party would be soon released after their cases were prosecuted.

The release was part of an agreement based on which the government convinced the leader of the party to join the peace process and come to Kabul after decades living in abroad. Around 200 inmates of Hezb-e-Islami party have been so far freed.

Law analysts call the release as “dangerous”, accusing most of the freed inmates of having hands in war crimes.

There are 2,500 inmates from Hezb-e-Islami party in the government prisons, according to reports.

The party had earlier said that government should fulfill its commitment and release prisoners of the party.

But the High Peace Council, rejects concerns over ignoring justice in releasing the inmates, with SayedEhsanTaheri, spokesman for the council, saying that based on Islamic orders, the God’s right relates to government and the people’s right relates to the people to make decisions .

Taheri rejected reports that members of the Hezb-e-Islami party joined armed opposition groups after being released from prisons.