Chapter Two : Fundamental Rights and Duties of Citizens
Article Twenty-Four
Liberty is the natural right of human beings. This right has no limits unless affecting others freedoms as well as the public interest, which shall be regulated by law. Liberty and human dignity are inviolable. The state shall respect and protect liberty as well as human dignity.
Chapter Two : Fundamental Rights and Duties of Citizens
Article Twenty-Five
Innocence is the original state. The accused shall be innocent until proven guilty by the order of an authoritative court.
Chapter Two : Fundamental Rights and Duties of Citizens
Article Twenty-Seven
No deed shall be considered a crime unless ruled by a law promulgated prior to commitment of the offense. No one shall be pursued, arrested, or detained without due process of law. No one shall be punished without the decision of an authoritative court taken in accordance with the provisions of the law, promulgated prior to commitment of the offense.
Chapter Two : Fundamental Rights and Duties of Citizens
Article Twenty-Nine
Persecution of human beings shall be forbidden. No one shall be allowed to or order torture, even for discovering the truth from another individual who is under investigation, arrest, detention or has been convicted to be punished. Punishment contrary to human dignity shall be prohibited.
Chapter Two : Fundamental Rights and Duties of Citizens
Article Thirty
A statement, confession or testimony obtained from an accused or of another individual by means of compulsion shall be invalid. Confession to a crime is a voluntary admission before an authorized court by an accused in a sound state of mind.
Chapter Two : Fundamental Rights and Duties of Citizens
Article Thirty-One
Upon arrest, or to prove truth, every individual can appoint a defense attorney. Immediately upon arrest, the accused shall have the right to be informed of the nature of the accusation, and appear before the court within the time limit specified by law. In criminal cases, the state shall appoint a defense attorney for the indigent. Confidentiality of conversations, correspondence, and communications between the accused and their attorney shall be secure from any kind of violation. The duties and powers of defense attorneys shall be regulated by law.
Chapter Seven : The Judiciary
Article One Hundred Twenty-Nine
In issuing decision, the court is obligated to state the reason for its verdict. All final decisions of the courts shall be enforced, except for capital punishment, which shall require Presidential approval.
Chapter 1 General Principles and Definitions
Article 4
Presumption of Innocence and Prohibition on Punishments against Human Dignity
Innocence (acquittal) is the original state. The accused shall be considered innocent as long as he is not convicted by a final verdict of a competent court.
Chapter 2
Rights of the Victim, Plaintiff, Suspect, Accused and Defendant
Presumption of Innocence
Article 5:
Presumption of innocence is the original state in which accused persons are innocent unless they are convicted by a final decision of a competent court.
The prosecutor and judge cannot interpret vagueness of the law or ambiguity of evidence against the suspect or accused person.
Chapter 2 Rights of the Victim, plaintiff, Suspect, Accused and Defendant
Rights of Suspect, Accused Person and Defendant during Different Legal Prosecution Stages
Article 7:
Suspects, accused persons, and defendants are entitled to the following rights during the legal prosecution stages:
1– Understanding the crime they are being charged with and receiving descriptions regarding the accusation and case proceedings.
2– Immunity from arbitrary arrest or detention and the right to receive compensation for any loss in accordance with the provisions of this law.
3– Immunity from insults, contempt, psychological and physical torture and any kind of inhumane behavior.
4– Informing his/her family or relatives at the time of arrest by the arresting authority.
5– To freely give statements and provide reasons.
6– To provide evidence and witnesses; to question the witnesses who have testified against him/her and to ensure the presence of and to hear the witnesses who testify in his/her favor.
7– To remain silent and refuse to make any comments.
8– To assign a defense lawyer or have a legal aid provider in accordance with the provisions of the law.
9– To give comment about seized items and evidence.
10– To have a translator.
11- Access to a copy of materials contained in the case file in the Primary or Appellate Court, statements of the witnesses and accomplices, physical and documented evidence related to the case, forensic reports, request and order on conducting secret surveillance, search warrant, and sufficient time and opportunity to prepare a defense statement unless the assigned prosecutor, due to reasons such as caution, the risk of endangering the witness, interruption in investigation process, obstruction of justice or having negative impacts on national interests, requests the court to deny the access [to such material].
12– To object to the proceedings of judicial police officer, experts, prosecutor’s office, and court.
13– The right to a hearing before the court to request a ruling on the legality of his/her detention.
14– To have free and confidential written or verbal communication with his/her legal representative in accordance with this law.
15– The right to be prosecuted without delay in accordance with the law.
16– The right to an open trial in accordance with the provisions of law.
17– The right to be present at trial.
18– Closing statements before the court.
19– The right to examine witnesses.
20– The right to object to the judge, prosecutor, defense counsel, and experts.
Chapter 2 Rights of the Victim, Plaintiff, Suspect, Accused and Defendant
Defense Rights
Article 9:
The suspect and accused person may be represented by a legal representative or pro se in any stage of the legal prosecution.
The suspect and accused person may have up to 3 defense lawyers at the same time.
A defense lawyer can defend one or several suspects or accused persons in the same case; provided that there is no conflict of interest among the suspects or accused persons.
When someone is suspected or accused of committing a crime for which the law anticipates long-term imprisonment or a term of longer imprisonment, the presence of defense attorney in the proceedings of legal prosecution is required.
Chapter 2 Rights of the Victim, Plaintiff, Suspect, Accused and Defendant
Appointment of Legal Aid Provider:
Article 10:
If the suspect or accused is indigent, or the suspect or accused person is deaf,mute, blind, or has any mental disorders, a legal aid provider shall be appointed for him/her with his/her consent.
Chapter 2 Rights of the Victim, Plaintiff, Suspect, Accused and Defendant
Appointment of Translator:
Article 11:
(1) The police, prosecutor’s office and court are required to appoint a translator if the victim, suspect or accused person does not know the language used during legal prosecution or is deaf or mute.A Government-funded translator shall be appointed for the indigents in accordance with the circumstances set forth in article 10 of this law.
(2) The translator is required to translate the assigned matters accurately and completely; in case of falsifying translations the translator shall be legally prosecuted in accordance with provisions of this law.
Chapter 4 Incriminating Reasons
Incriminating Evidence:
Article 19:
(4) The court cannot issue a decision to convict the accused person based on suspicion or if there is doubt in reasons or evidence.
Chapter 4 Incriminating Reasons
Prohibition of Taking Statements by Coercion or Enticement
Article 22:
(1) The judicial police officer, prosecutor and court themselves or through means of another person, in any case, are not allowed to force the suspect or accused to confess using misconduct, narcotics, duress, torture, hypnosis, threat, intimidation, or promising a benefit.
(2) If the statements of the suspect or accused person are taken in violation of the provision set forth in paragraph (1) of this article, they shall not be admissible.
Section 3 Trial
Chapter 7 Judicial Proceedings
Openness of Judicial Hearing
Article 213:
Judicial Trial shall be open and anyone can attend the session, unless the judge holds a closed trial in part or in general due to ethical reasons, family secrets, or preservation of public order.
Chapter 2 Extradition
Article Eleven
Requirements for accepting the request
(1) A request for extradition of an accused to be investigated or tried will be accepted for consideration under the following requirements:
c. [The party requesting extradition] shall commit to abide by the provisions of the UN Convention on Civil and Political Rights and UN Convention against Torture, and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment while investigating and trying the individual whose extradition is being requested.
Chapter 2 Extradition
Article Fourteen
Rights of arrestees
(1) Any foreign citizen or a stateless individual residing in Afghanistan who, on the basis of a request from a third country, is arrested, taken into custody or detained, is entitled to the following rights:
a. Immediate contact with the [diplomatic] mission of his country or any other person who has the authority to protect his rights.b. Meeting between the stateless individual and the representative of the country where he has habitual residence.
c. Advise of rights under sections a and b of this paragraph.
(2) When contact and meeting under sections a and b of this paragraph (1) are impossible, the Attorney General’s Office shall take proper measures to ensure that a meeting between the arrested individual and a representative of the International Red Cross Committee occurs.
Chapter 3 Investigations
Article 21.
Investigation by Military Prosecutor
(b) Interrogation must be conducted in the presence of the accused’s defense counsel, and the accused has the right to remain silent.
Chapter 4 The Trial
Article 29. Abstention of the Military Judge
(a) A military judge cannot handle the case if:
1. The crime was committed against him or his relatives to third degree; or,
2. He has performed duties of the military police, military criminal investigators, military prosecutor, military defense counsel, or has given witness or functioned as an expert in the same case.
(b) When the cases indicated in paragraph (a) occur, the judge shall request the senior military judge of his basic military court to authorize him to abstain.
(c) When the cases indicated in paragraph (a) occur and the military judge in question is the senior military judge for a basic court, the senior military judge shall request the Head of the Legal Department for the General Staff to authorize him to abstain.
(d) When a senior military judge or the Head of the Legal Department for the General Staff accepts the request to abstain, the decision cannot be protested or appealed.
(e) When a senior military judge authorizes abstention, he or she shall substitute the requesting judge for the handling of the case.
(f) When the Head of the Legal Department for the General Staff authorizes abstention, he or she shall order the substitute of another military judge.
(g) Pending a decision on abstention, the military criminal procedures in that case shall be stayed.
Chapter 4 The Trial
Article 38.
Order of the Trial
(b) Trials are open to the public except when the court decides all or part of it shall be closed to the public for reasons of public order, or national security.
Chapter 4 The Trial
Article 39.
Conduct of the Trial
(a) The military prosecutor is required to participate in the trial, read out the indictment and answer questions asked by the court.
(b) The accused and his defense counsel are required to be present in the trial, and ask the witnesses and experts to provide necessary information.
(c) The military judge can, at any time, address questions to the accused and to any witness in the trial.
(d) The accused can refuse to answer the questions of the military judge consistent with his right to remain silent.
1. En las investigaciones realizadas de conformidad con el presente Estatuto:
(a) Nadie será obligado a declarar contra sí mismo ni a declararse culpable;
(b) Nadie será sometido a forma alguna de coacción, intimidación o amenaza, a torturas ni a otros tratos o castigos crueles, inhumanos o degradantes;
(c) Quien haya de ser interrogado en un idioma que no sea el que comprende y habla perfectamente contará, sin cargo alguno, con los servicios de un intérprete competente y las traducciones que sean necesarias a los efectos de cumplir el requisito de equidad; y
(d) Nadie será sometido a arresto o detención arbitrarios ni será privado de su libertad salvo por los motivos previstos en el presente Estatuto y de conformidad con los procedimientos establecidos en él.
2. Cuando haya motivos para creer que una persona ha cometido un crimen de la competencia de la Corte y esa persona haya de ser interrogada por el Fiscal o por las autoridades nacionales, en cumplimiento de una solicitud hecha de conformidad con lo dispuesto en la Parte IX, tendrá además los derechos siguientes, de los que será informada antes del interrogatorio:
(a) A ser informada de que existen motivos para creer que ha cometido un crimen de la competencia de la Corte;
(b) A guardar silencio, sin que ello pueda tenerse en cuenta a los efectos de determinar su culpabilidad o inocencia;
(c) A ser asistida por un abogado defensor de su elección o, si no lo tuviere, a que se le asigne un defensor de oficio, siempre que fuere necesario en interés de la justicia y, en cualquier caso, sin cargo si careciere de medios suficientes; y
(d) A ser interrogada en presencia de su abogado, a menos que haya renunciado voluntariamente a su derecho a asistencia letrada.
1. El acusado estará presente durante el juicio.
2. Si el acusado, estando presente en la Corte, perturbare continuamente el juicio, la Sala de Primera Instancia podrá disponer que salga de ella y observe el proceso y dé instrucciones a su defensor desde fuera, utilizando, en caso necesario, tecnologías de comunicación. Esas medidas se adoptarán únicamente en circunstancias excepcionales, después de que se haya demostrado que no hay otras posibilidades razonables y adecuadas, y únicamente durante el tiempo que sea estrictamente necesario.
1. Se presumirá que toda persona es inocente mientras no se pruebe su culpabilidad ante la Corte de conformidad con el derecho aplicable.
2. Incumbirá al Fiscal probar la culpabilidad del acusado.
3. Para dictar sentencia condenatoria, la Corte deberá estar convencida de la culpabilidad del acusado más allá de toda duda razonable.
1. En la determinación de cualquier cargo, el acusado tendrá derecho a ser oído públicamente, habida cuenta de las disposiciones del presente Estatuto, y a una audiencia justa e imparcial, así como a las siguientes garantías mínimas en pie de plena igualdad:
(a) A ser informado sin demora y en forma detallada, en un idioma que comprenda y hable perfectamente, de la naturaleza, la causa y el contenido de los cargos que se le imputan;
(b) A disponer del tiempo y de los medios adecuados para la preparación de su defensa y a comunicarse libre y confidencialmente con un defensor de su elección;
(c) A ser juzgado sin dilaciones indebidas;
(d) Con sujeción a lo dispuesto en el párrafo 2 del artículo 63, el acusado tendrá derecho a hallarse presente en el proceso y a defenderse personalmente o ser asistido por un defensor de su elección; a ser informado, si no tuviera defensor, del derecho que le asiste a tenerlo y, siempre que el interés de la justicia lo exija, a que se le nombre defensor de oficio, gratuitamente si careciere de medios suficientes para pagarlo;
(e) A interrogar o hacer interrogar a los testigos de cargo y a obtener la comparecencia de los testigos de descargo y que éstos sean interrogados en las mismas condiciones que los testigos de cargo. El acusado tendrá derecho también a oponer excepciones y a presentar cualquier otra prueba admisible de conformidad con el presente Estatuto;
(f) A ser asistido gratuitamente por un intérprete competente y a obtener las traducciones necesarias para satisfacer los requisitos de equidad, si en las actuaciones ante la Corte o en los documentos presentados a la Corte se emplea un idioma que no comprende y no habla;
(g) A no ser obligado a declarar contra sí mismo ni a declararse culpable y a guardar silencio, sin que ello pueda tenerse en cuenta a los efectos de determinar su culpabilidad o inocencia;
(h) A declarar de palabra o por escrito en su defensa sin prestar juramento; y
(i) A que no se invierta la carga de la prueba ni le sea impuesta la carga de presentar contrapruebas.
2. Además de cualquier otra divulgación de información estipulada en el presente Estatuto, el Fiscal divulgará a la defensa, tan pronto como sea posible, las pruebas que obren en su poder o estén bajo su control y que, a su juicio, indiquen o tiendan a indicar la inocencia del acusado, o a atenuar su culpabilidad, o que puedan afectar a la credibilidad de las pruebas de cargo. En caso de duda acerca de la aplicación de este párrafo, la Corte decidirá.