Rahman became a Christian 16 years ago while working with a (gasp) Christian aid group in Pakistan. However, a custody dispute brought it into the public arena. For this the prosecution is seeking to rid the world of not only an apostate but also one who very disturbed. Read further.
The ongoing trial in Kabul of Abdul Rahman, a 41-year-old Afghan Christian, reminds Americans that though Afghanistan has been freed from Taliban control, true freedom of worship does not exist there. He faces a possible death sentence for converting to Christianity.
Of course increasing pressure is brought to bear because our troops didn’t fight and die for a Muslim theocracy but the right people to live freely and worship according to conscience. Bush has commented about the situation while in W.Va.
Bush, on a visit to Wheeling, W.Va., said yesterday he was “deeply troubled” to learn of Rahman’s possible prosecution. “That’s not the universal application of the values that I talked about” while in Kabul, he said. He stopped short of calling for the case against Rahman to be dropped but said he would work with Karzai’s government “to make sure that people are protected in their capacity to worship.”
Michelle Malkin mentions several calls have been made on behalf of Abdul Rhaman. Below the Beltway is also glad to see principled condemnation of the proposed execution of a man who has committed no crime against the society or the rule of law.
Ms. Rice said that the United States fought for those values in Afghanistan, and that the case was contrary to the Afghan constitution, Mr. McCormack said.
The Jawa Report did a little digging on the subject and found this.
“The blood of a Muslim who confesses that none has the right to be worshiped but Allah and that I am His Apostle, cannot be shed except in three cases: In Qisas for murder, a married person who commits illegal sexual intercourse and the one who reverts from Islam (apostate) and leaves the Muslims.” [Sahih Bukhari Volume 9, Book 83, Number 17]
“(He was) a Jew who embraced Islam and has now turned apostate.” Muadh said, “I will surely chop off his neck!” [Sahih Bukhari Volume 5, Book 59, Number 632]
The Judge in the case refuses to bow to foregoing pressure (he must or he might be killed also) but moves seem to be taken to declare him incompetent. But that begs the issue. It wouldn’t resolved anything but this case only. There are larger issues at hand.
How this all plays out remains to be seen. This case should reveal how the West must not lose its nerve. If it is seen that all converts to Christianity are ‘mad’ then will be eventually locked away.
“We think he could be mad. He is not a normal person. He doesn’t talk like a normal person,” he told The Associated Press.
Who is the mad one here? Go figure, liberals send someone to help defend a real madman named Saddam. Will anyone send a lawyer for this man. Wouldn’t it seem to fit the pattern… kill the mad Christians but let innocent heads of state like Saddam go free. What a nutty world we live in.
Wizbang also covers this issue with a ‘born again’ agnostic take.
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