Afghanistan executes five men convicted of gang rape

KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- Five men convicted last month of gang rape were hanged Wednesday at Pul-e-Charkhi prison east of Kabul.

They were sentenced to death after an Afghan court found them guilty of robbing and raping four women in the Paghman district of Kabul Province in August. An appellate court and the country's Supreme Court upheld their sentences despite concerns lodged by human rights organizations that the trials were flawed and merited reconsideration.

Two other men were also convicted for their involvement in the assaults but did not receive a death sentence.

Former President Hamid Karzai approved the executions before leaving office on Sept. 29, his spokesman said in a statement.

On the same day as the executions, the Kabul City Police website promoted the protection of women in a series of reminders:

"Islam prohibits violence against women; it is also a criminal offense under Afghan law."

"Violence against women is inhuman and an illegal act. Violence against women questions our morality and reflects our ignorance of the law."