An Afghan court has sentenced to death a journalist found guilty of blasphemy.
Sayed Perwiz Kambakhsh (23), a reporter with the Jahan-e Nowdaily paper was sentenced on Tuesday by Balkh's primary court having been arrested three months ago by provincial security officials.
"According to . . . the Islamic law, Sayed Perwiz is sentenced to death at the first court," said head of Balkh's court Shamsur Rahman. "However, he will go through three more (appeal) courts to declare his last punishment."
Kambakhsh was detained after complaints from some of his university classmates for allegedly mocking Islam and the Koran and for distributing an article that said Prophet Mohammad had ignored the rights of women.
His detention has been denounced by journalist organisations which are putting pressure on the Afghan government to ensure his release.
Sayed Yaqub Ibrahimi, brother of Kambakhsh, called the verdict "very unfair" and asked the international community for help.
Two journalists sentenced to death also for allegedly insulting Islam managed to escape jail several years ago and have been given asylum in the West.