Blasphemy

RFE-RL reports on developments in an Afghan blasphemy case involving the editor of a women's magazine. This one seems to have had political origins, as it came up when the editor, a moderate Shi'ite religious leader, was attacked by more conservative Shi'ites while running for Parliament. The Media Commission has investigated and found no wrong-doing, and he's probably going to be released. Still, this shows some of the lingering problems in Afghanistan's political freedom, as the state's coercive mechanisms remain within the reach of those who want to stifle expression with which they disagree.