By Matthew Champion.

The reported release of an Afghan student initially sentenced to death for downloading information on women’s rights has been welcomed by the UK government.

Sayed Pervez Kambaksh, 24, is reportedly living outside Afghanistan after receiving a secret presidential pardon from a conviction of insulting Islam.

The trainee journalist at one point faced the death penalty for downloading a document that discussed women’s rights.

The sentence was later commuted to 20 years imprisonment, but western outcry remained, with high profile supporters Nicolas Sarkozy, Condoleezza Rice and David Miliband adding their voices to calls for him to be released.

According to Monday’s Independent, Mr Kambaksh is unlikely to ever see his family or home country again due to outcry over his pardon and release.

His release is so politically sensitive – especially coming during presidential elections in Afghanistan – that the names of the people involved will not be revealed.

"The danger is very real and we are well aware that there will be a reaction when it becomes clear that Pervez had gone," a source told the Independent.

"It was imperative he was safely out of the way before attempts could be made to block that."

On Monday the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it "welcomed reporters of the release", adding that it could not provide any further information of Mr Kambaksh’s location or status.

He was originally arrested in October 2007 after students at staff at the Mazar-i-Sharif university accused him of disseminating material on women’s rights that "insulted Islam".

He was charged with blasphemy and sentenced to death three months later, but clamour for his release grew when it was revealed a confession had been beaten out of him, he had received no legal representation and was not allowed during a four-minute hearing behind closed doors.

More than 100,000 people signed an online Independent petition calling for his release.

Popularity: 1% [?]