AFGHANISTAN: A FORMER MUJAHIDEEN LEADER ACCUSED OF WAR CRIMES DENIES HE COMMITTED ANY CRIMES AND SAYS HE IS CONFIDENT HE WILL WIN A SEAT IN PARLIAMENT

Record ID: 208430

  • Title: AFGHANISTAN: A FORMER MUJAHIDEEN LEADER ACCUSED OF WAR CRIMES DENIES HE COMMITTED ANY CRIMES AND SAYS HE IS CONFIDENT HE WILL WIN A SEAT IN PARLIAMENT
  • Date: 14th September 2005
  • Summary: (W4) KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (SEPTEMBER 14, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. SLV SHOT OF MOSQUE 0.05 2. SV CROWD OF PEOPLE GOING INSIDE MOSQUE 0.09 3. CU POSTER OF FORMER MUJAHIDEEN LEADER ABDUL RABB RASOUL SAYYAF 0.13 4. SV SECURITY ON ROOF 0.16 5. SV SAYYAF GOING INTO MOSQUE SURROUNDED BY BODY GUARDS 0.23 6. LV/CU VARIOUS OF SAYYAF TALKING TO SUPPORTERS (2 SHOTS) 0.33 7. SV/CU VARIOUS OF PEOPLE LISTENING (2 SHOTS) 0.42 8. SV SAYYAF COMING OUT OF THE MOSQUE 0.50 9. LV SECURITY GUARDS ON ROOF OF MOSQUE 0.56 10. MCU (English) ABDUL RABB RASOUL SAYYAF, FORMER MUJAHIDEEN LEADER, SAYING: "If there was some proof that I had committed some crimes, then I will be responsible for that, but I am sure that we have worked for the freedom of the country. We have struggled against crimes and didn't commit crimes. These are only the claims of those who are against us and against the freedom of this country." 1.30 11. SLV SECURITY GUARD ON ROOF OF MOSQUE WITH SAYYAF POSTER 1.35 12. MCU (English) ABDUL RABB RASOUL SAYYAF, SAYING: "These people had no objection on our leadership when we were fighting against the Soviet Union. When we were rescuing the world from the dangers of the Red Army -- in that time, where were the objections? In that time we were the heroes, and now we are criminals? I think if those people who gave victory to Afghanistan, if they are not worthy to be in this political election, who will be proper and worthier than them." 2.23 13. SV SAYYAF LEAVING 2.26 14. LV OF MOSQUE WITH CROWD OF PEOPLE 2.31 15. SV DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP, SAM ZARIFI WITH JOURNALIST 2.35 16. MCU (English) SAM ZARIFI, DEPUTY DIRECTOR ASIA FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, SAYING: "Mr Sayyaf along with a number of other leaders from the mujahideen era are accused of war crimes and human rights abuses during the civil war - mostly that took place in Kabul between 1992 and 1995. There were attacks on civilians, looting, raping and robbery, but it's important to point out that Mr. Sayaff is not the only one implicated in such crimes. There are a number of other people from the mujahideen era, but also former communists and Taliban who are accused of major human rights violations and we really hope the Afghan government will start a process for bringing these people to justice." 3.19 17. SV REPORTER AND ZARIFI 3.23 18. MCU (English) SAM ZARIFI, DEPUTY DIRECTOR ASIA FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, SAYING: "If you can imagine being in parliament it's very difficult to disagree with a member of parliament if you know that he has access to guns and troops and it's also a great fear for people that there would be a return to the factional fighting that the parliament instead of being the solution becomes a cause for more fighting in the future." 3.44 19. LV OF SAYYAF POSTERS IN KABUL 3.50 20. WIDE OF STREET IN KABUL (2 SHOTS) 3.59 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 29th September 2005 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
  • Country: Afghanistan
  • Reuters ID: LVA6JMRAXQYF5LJVRILGY90FH3LQ
  • Story Text: Former Mujahideen fighter accused of atrocities agaisnt innocent human beings in Afghanistan denies he committed any crimes and says he is confident he will win a seat in parliament.



    A former mujahideen leader accused of war crimes said on Wednesday (September 14) he supports an investigation into abuses during Afghanistan's long civil war.

    But Abdul Rabb Rasoul Sayyaf, whose Ittihad-i-Islami faction battled
    Soviet occupiers in the 1980s and helped U.S.-led forces to oust the Taliban in 2001, denied wrongdoing and defended his right to stand in Sunday's parliamentary elections.

    "If there was some proof that I had committed some crimes, then I
    will be responsible for that, but I am sure that we have worked for the
    freedom of the country. We have struggled against crimes and didn't commit crimes. These are only the claims of those who are against us and against the freedom of this country," he told reporters during a campaign rally in Paghman, a district west of Kabul.

    Sayyaf said he supported the punishment of criminals, but investigations needed to be done impartially.

    Sayyaf rejected charges from critics who say he and other mujahideen
    (holy warrior) commanders accused of rights abuses should not have been
    allowed to stand in the elections, the next big step in Afghanistan's
    difficult path to stability.

    "These people had no objection on our leadership when we were
    fighting against the Soviet Union. When we were rescuing the world from the dangers of the Red Army -- in that time, where were the objections? In that time we were the heroes, and now we are criminals? I think if those people who gave victory to Afghanistan, if they are not worthy to be in this political election, who will be proper and worthier than them" he said.

    Sayyaf is an ethnic Pashtun and a key supporter of U.S.-backed
    President Hamid Karzai. Sporting a long grey beard, a turban and traditional robes, he is among the most conservative Islamist figures standing in the elections.

    A Human Rights Watch report in July accused Ittihad of widespread
    killing and abduction of rival ethnic Hazara civilians during battles for control of western Kabul in the 1990s and said Sayyaf was directly implicated in the abuses.

    Sam Zarifi, deputy director for Asia for the rights group, welcomed
    Sayyaf's support for an investigation, but said he himself had a lot to answer for.

    "Mr. Sayyaf along with a number of other leaders from the
    mujahideen era are accused of war crimes and human rights abuses during the civil war - mostly that took place in Kabul between 1992 and 1995. There were attacks on civilians, looting, raping and robbery, but it's important to point out that Mr. Sayaff is not the only one implicated in such crimes. There are a number of other people from the mujahideen era, but also former communists and Taliban who are accused of major human rights violations and we really hope the Afghan government will start a process for bringing these people to justice," he told Reuters.

    Zarifi said there were also allegations that, since the overthrow of the Taliban, Sayyaf and other warlords had been involved in intimidation of political rivals, contributing to a prevailing atmosphere of fear.

    He said it was telling that armed militiamen, including a
    machine-gunner posted on the roof of the mosque where Sayyaf was speaking, had attended the campaign rally in Paghman.

    "If you can imagine being in parliament it's very difficult to
    disagree with a member of parliament if you know that he has access to guns and troops and it's also a great fear for people that there would be a return to the factional fighting that the parliament instead of being the solution becomes a cause for more fighting in the future," said Zarifi.

    A total of 45 candidates have been barred from the elections, most for links to illegal armed groups, but no prominent figure is among them, raising concerns that the polls will help institutionalise a culture of impunity.

    This week, Karzai defended the fact that Sayyaf and others accused of rights abuses had been allowed to run in the polls, saying it was in the interests of national reconciliation.

    He said voters had the choice of who to vote for and, if there was a tribunal to prosecute abuses, parliament could decide whether to lift the immunity of anyone elected.

    Many ordinary Afghans have been bemused by the presence of warlords' names on poll lists, but from Paghman at least it appears Sayyaf can expect a solid show of support.

    Some supporters in Kabul have said Sayyaf was respected as a jihadi
    (holy war) commander who worked for the good of the people. He dismissed the idea that he had been responsible for war crimes.


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