Abdullah Shah
Encyclopedia
Abdullah Shah was an Afghan
man found guilty in Kabul
of killing more than 20 people, including his wife. His sanctioned execution was the first in Afghanistan
since the fall of the Taliban in late 2001.
Shah served under Zardad Khan —even earning the nickname Zardad's dog— who served under Gulbuddin Hekmatyar
in the Civil war in Afghanistan (1992–1996). Shah and Zardad robbed travelers on the road from Kabul to Jalalabad.
Shah was first convicted in special court proceedings in October 2002. Nine people testified against him at the trial, including another wife he tried to set on fire. The bodies of many of Shah's victims were found in a well in Paghman District
.
The execution in the Pul-e-Charkhi jail. Interim president Hamid Karzai
signed the death warrant. At the execution, Shah was shot in the back of the head. Witnesses present included representatives of the Afghan police and the Attorney General's office, and doctors.
Amnesty International
protested against the execution claiming Afghanistan avoided basic standards of fairness. Amnesty International added that Abdullah Shah was probably silenced so he could not testify against commanders allied to the government. It said Shah was not provided a defense attorney, the trial was secret, a confession was obtained under torture, and that the first judge in his case was dismissed for taking a bribe. The second judge came under pressure from the Supreme Court to impose the sentence.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
man found guilty in Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
of killing more than 20 people, including his wife. His sanctioned execution was the first in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
since the fall of the Taliban in late 2001.
Shah served under Zardad Khan —even earning the nickname Zardad's dog— who served under Gulbuddin Hekmatyar
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar is an Afghan Mujahideen leader who is the founder and leader of the Hezb-e Islami political party and paramilitary group. Hekmatyar was a rebel military commander during the 1980s Soviet war in Afghanistan and was one of the key figures in the civil war that followed the...
in the Civil war in Afghanistan (1992–1996). Shah and Zardad robbed travelers on the road from Kabul to Jalalabad.
Shah was first convicted in special court proceedings in October 2002. Nine people testified against him at the trial, including another wife he tried to set on fire. The bodies of many of Shah's victims were found in a well in Paghman District
Paghman District
Paghman District is situated in the western part of Kabul Province, Afghanistan. It has a population of 120,000 people, and another 20,000 returnees are expected , of which 70% are Pashtuns and 30% Tajiks....
.
The execution in the Pul-e-Charkhi jail. Interim president Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai, GCMG is the 12th and current President of Afghanistan, taking office on 7 December 2004. He became a dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001...
signed the death warrant. At the execution, Shah was shot in the back of the head. Witnesses present included representatives of the Afghan police and the Attorney General's office, and doctors.
Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
protested against the execution claiming Afghanistan avoided basic standards of fairness. Amnesty International added that Abdullah Shah was probably silenced so he could not testify against commanders allied to the government. It said Shah was not provided a defense attorney, the trial was secret, a confession was obtained under torture, and that the first judge in his case was dismissed for taking a bribe. The second judge came under pressure from the Supreme Court to impose the sentence.