Karzai should end Afghan death penalty - rights group

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai should not sign execution orders for about 100 prisoners sentenced to death by the Supreme Court because of concern fair trial standards are not met in capital cases, a rights group said on Thursday.

Human Rights Watch said the Supreme Court's recent announcement of about 100 death sentences showed a "disturbing disregard for the right to life".

Supreme Court officials told the media that those sentenced to death had been convicted of serious crimes, such as murder and rape, kidnapping, hostage taking and armed robbery.

The U.S.-based Human Rights Watch said legal experts and human rights organisations in Afghanistan have long expressed concern that international due process and fair trial standards were generally not met in capital cases.

"President Karzai should suspend the death penalty immediately," Elaine Pearson, the group's Asia deputy director, said in a statement.

The Afghan government, set up after the ouster of the Taliban in 2001, has retained the death sentence but executions have been relatively rare.

But last year, 14 people accused of various serious crimes, were executed at the same time by a firing squad in Kabul's Pul-i-Charkhi prison.

"More mass executions will be a huge setback for the rule of law in Afghanistan," Pearson said.

Afghanistan's judiciary, like much of government, is criticised for endemic corruption and red tape.