At a press conference held in Kabul on Tuesday, the Afghanistan National Congress (ANC) - an association of Afghan political experts, politicians and activists – urged the international community to block "human rights violators" from contesting the spring elections.
ANC representatives warned the international community that several candidates they identified as human rights violators have filed nominations for Presidential and Provincial Council elections. While not providing any specific names, the ANC suggested that if such candidates were allowed to run in the elections, and win, Afghanistan's progress on human rights would be in vain.
"The election should be held in a corruption-free environment. We urge the international community, citizens and civil society institutions not to let the human rights violators contest the elections," said Mohammad Essa Eshaqzai, the head of the ANC.
Ahead of the withdraw of coalition forces with the end of the NATO combat mission in December of 2014, concerns about the future of security and governance in Afghanistan have abounded. The spring elections, in particular, have been regarded as a critical junction that will determine the future stability of the country.
The ANC's statements on Tuesday join a chorus of international media outlets and humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), that have come out in opposition to the involvement of individuals who reportedly have track records of human rights violations in the Afghan government.
The representatives at the press conference also called on the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) to reject the registration of "human rights violators."
The Independent Elections Commission's (IEC) official registration period ended on Sunday. The ECC then began its vetting of the nominations on Monday, looking at candidate's applications as well as their backgrounds, and is expected to submit its decisions on eligible candidates to the IEC for announcement on October 19.
According to the Elections Laws, the ECC has the authority to reject any nomination if it is found that the candidate has ties to insurgents, is guilty of committing any crime or has a case pending in the Afghan courts.
Although the ANC did not identify any specific candidates as "human rights violators," it has been widely discussed in Western media that Abdul Rab Rasoul Sayyaf, a recently registered Presidential candidate and former Jihadi leader accused by Human Rights Watch of human rights abuses during Afghanistan's civil war period, could be a major contender to succeed President Hamid Karzai. Sayyaf was also alleged to have been a major point of contact for Arab fighters, including Osama Bin Laden, during the mujahedeen's fight against the Soviet invasion during the 1970s and 80s.
In addition to calling for the prevention of certain candidates from running in the elections, the ANC took the opportunity during their press conference to admonish government meddling in the electoral process.
"We should work toward holding transparent and legitimate elections," said Sayed Naim Majrooh, the deputy head of the ANC.