Rights body, people want Joya's reinstatemen

"Joya is an inspiring example of courage," said Adams

Hundreds of people staged protest rally in eastern city of Jalalabad to support Malalai Joya. More photos

FARAH CITY: The New York based Human Rights Watch (HRW) and hundreds of people from the western Farah province Thursday demanded the immediate reinstatement of female member of Parliament Malalai Joya.

Referring to Joya's suspension for criticising her colleagues, the HRW statement demanded revision of the parliamentary procedures that restrict freedom of speech. On May 21, the Lower House of Parliament voted to suspend the MP from the western Farah province for comments she made during a television interview.

It is unclear whether Joyas suspension will run until the end of the current parliamentary session or she will be suspended for the remaining term of the Parliament which ends in 2009.

"Malalai Joya is a staunch defender of human rights and a powerful voice for Afghan women, and she shouldn't have been suspended from Parliament," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

"Joya's comments don't warrant the punishment she received and they certainly don't warrant court proceedings," he insisted.

In her criticism of the parliament what she called a failure to accomplish enough for the Afghan people, Joya told her interviewer: "A stable or a zoo is better (than the legislature), at least there you have a donkey that carries a load and a cow that provides milk. This parliament is worse than a stable or a zoo."

The HRW noted that members of parliament were regularly criticising each other, but no one else has been suspended.

"The article banning criticism of Parliament is an unreasonable rule that violates the principle of free speech enshrined in international law and valued around the world," said Adams. "The Afghan Parliament should be setting an example by promoting and protecting free expression, not by stamping it out."

The rights body urged the Parliament to take steps to revise article 70 and ensure that elected representatives can speak freely without fear of suspension or lawsuits.

"Joya is an inspiring example of courage," said Adams, who added: "Afghanistan's international friends should not hesitate to speak out in her defense."

Meanwhile, scores of people in the western Farah province took to the streets to register their anger at the ouster of Female MP Malalai Joya from the Wolesi Jirga or Lower House of Parliament. Chanting slogans in support of their representative, the protestors, including a number of women, gathered at the main square in the city, where the organisers delivered speeches.

Head of the Farah provincial council Belqis Roshan rejected the suspension of Malalai Joya and said the move was an insult to the female MP.

Belqis said Joya was the true representative of the people as she had bagged more than eight thousand votes during the September 18 parliamentary elections from Farah province.

Movie clip of report by Ariana TV: