Afghanistan confirms blanket pardon for war crimes

(Reuters) - Afghanistan confirmed for the first time publicly on Tuesday that it had enacted into law a blanket pardon for war crimes and human rights abuse carried out before 2001.

Parliament is made up largely of lawmakers from former armed groups, some accused by rights groups and ordinary Afghans of war crimes.

"This law was passed with a two-thirds majority in our parliament, and according to our constitution, when a law is passed with a two-thirds majority, it does not require the president to sign it," Omer told a briefing.

"This law is absolute disgrace. It's a slap in the face to all the Afghans who suffered for years and years of war crimes and warlordism," Adams told Reuters.

He called on the international community and the United States to apply pressure on Afghanistan to repeal the law. "The U.S. needs to decide whether they're with the victims or the perpetrators, and make their views known publicly," he said.

During Karzai's eight years in power, he has consistently included former commanders of armed factions in his government and inner circle, including many accused by the West of war crimes and other abuses.

Both of Karzai's two vice presidents are former leaders of armed groups whose factions squabbled for control of Kabul in the 1990s, when thousands of civilians were killed and hundreds of thousands fled their homes. - Afghanistan confirms blanket pardon for war crimes‎

پشت پرده تصویب قانون مصالحه ملی چه کسانی هستند؟