NUJ President Michelle Stanistreet said: “The NUJ is opposed to any attacks on press freedom, whether from gunmen or governments. Every reporter has the right to freedom of expression.”

Kambakhsh, who also reported for the newspaper Jahan-e-Naw, was convicted of blasphemy for downloading an article from a Farsi-language website and possessing books containing anti-Islamic sentiment. He was not represented by a lawyer at the trial, which was held in secret. This sentence has also been supported by the upper house of the Afghan parliament.

IFJ General Secretary Aidan White said: “This statement by Afghan lawmakers is a shocking confirmation of intolerance and a lack of respect for free speech. It is worryingly out of touch with international standards of democracy.”

Afghanistan remains a dangerous country for journalists to work in, with four journalists killed there last year.

The Independent has created a petition calling on the Afghan government to prevent Kambakhsh’s execution. A number of Facebook groups have also been set up. To sign the petition click here.