HRW wants AIHRC member fired forthwith

KABUL Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) member Abdul Rahman Hotak.

President Hamid Karzai recently appointed Hotak, who has voiced opposition to the Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW) law, Human Rights Watch said.

The newly-appointed AIHRC member, who was also a member of the Taliban very well – perhaps they think Kabul is Afghanistan.”

In an interview with Reuters, according to a statement from the New York-based organisation, Hotak said in his view the EVAW law was “violating Islam” and there needed to be a law that people were comfortable with.

The 2009 EVAW law criminalises abuses of women, including rape, child marriage, forced marriage, sale of women and domestic violence. In many ways, it is the first Afghan law providing women with protection.

“There were many questions about Hotak’s suitability for this job – and Hotak has just answered them,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

He said:“President Karzai has appointed a fox to guard the henhouse. The only solution is for him to be removed and replaced with a new commissioner who will actually protect human rights.”

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