Afghan Parliament Rejects Chief Justice Nominee

Deputies of Afghanistan's parliament (file photo) (AFP) May 27, 2006 -- Afghanistan's parliament today rejected President Hamid Karzai's nominee for chief justice of the Supreme Court.

Lawmakers voted against the reappointment of Chief Justice Fazel Hadi Shinwari, an Islamic conservative.

Human Rights Watch says Shinwari has a record of ignoring human rights standards.

Karzai has nominated eight other new justices for the nine-member Supreme Court. Lawmakers have so far approved two and rejected three. The court is considered highly influential in Afghanistan, particularly in determining the influence of Islam in government.

(AP)