UIA-IROLhas been following closely the situation of lawyers and judges in Afghanistan and remains extremely concerned by the number of attacks on lawyers and judges. The most recent incidents include the murder of two Supreme Court Judges who were killed on theirway to work. Supreme Court Judges Kadria Yasini and Zakia Herawi were assassinated by unidentified assailants who ambushed them and opened fire on their vehicles. Kabul’s police force also confirmed that the drivers of the two murdered judges and a third judge were wounded in the attack.
The U.N. Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers similarly established a number of principles recognizing the unique role of lawyers in defending the rule of law, notably by charging governments with ensuring that lawyers “are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference,” and instructing governments that where the security of lawyers is threatened as a result of discharging their functions[,] governments are to take all measures necessary to ensure that the lawyers’ security is “adequately safeguarded.”
https://www.uianet.org/sites/default/files/uia-irol_statement_afghanistan_210204.pdf
