Reject indefinite detention without trial, Kabul urged

The Afghan government should reject a new law that permits indefinite detention of security suspects without trial, Human Rights Watch said on Sunday.

A September amendment to the Criminal Procedure Code, imposed by presidential decree, allows Afghan authorities to detain for a renewable one-year period anyone suspected of "crimes against internal or external security," or believed "likely to commit such a crime".

"Given President Ashraf Ghani's sharp criticisms of US practices at Guantanamo, it is incomprehensible why he would want to bring indefinite detention without trial to Afghanistan," Human Rights Watch said.

"Afghanistan needs to take steps to address terrorism and protect public safety, but not by denying Afghans the right to a fair trial."