Reaction Article #4: Afghan Student Sentenced to 20 Years

Name: Wendy Cheng (49712053)
Date: 10/24/2008
From: Time

My reactions:
In accordance with Amir Shah in “Afghan Student Sentenced to 20 Years,” a journalism student Parwez Kambakhsh was accused of irreverence for asking questions in class about women’s rights under Islam. At first, he was sentenced to death. Nevertheless, Afghan court overturned the death sentence and judges still sentenced him to twenty years in prison. He was penalized since he also wrote an article on the Internet as well as on his paper which express his own comments about why Islam doesn’t provide equal rights for women. The incident gives rise to big reactions, conservative groups and open groups in the world have fierce debate. It is thought that the event reveals that a great frustration and a setback of the rights of free expression in Afghan.

As far as I am concerned, the government of Afghan is so ridiculous that sentenced people as violating the tenets of Islam. People all around the world should have their own freedom, including free speech and free thoughts. I think that the student was innocent; moreover, he expressed his perceptions bravely. As a female, I feel sorry but proud of him for the reason that he has fought for women’s rights. Afghan puts strict regulations on women, such as every woman is banned to be seen on the face otherwise they will be punished in public. Although some limits are the tenets of Islam, they are unreasonable to me because of differences between democratic and autocratic countries. Taiwan is much freer than Afghan, I should cherish these individual freedom and use them properly. Moreover, Taiwanese government should learn some lesson from the happening. (270 words)