Abdul Rahman faces the death sentence for converting to Christianity
Intolerable indeed. This outrage can't be allowed to go unchallenged.
This is absolutely intolerable. Mr. Rahman should be set free. It may have to be done with a minimum of fuss, but would should it make it very clear (behind closed doors) that this is absolutely unacceptable.
Pretty clearly stated, and I agree.
Well put. The obvious solution in Abdul Rahman's case would be for him to leave Afghanistan for a place that doesn't condemn converts from Islam to death. That would satisfy Nicholas Burns's advice to seek an Afghan solution that will weasel around the problem.
But that still leaves us with the basic problem: that Muslims are required to SUBMIT to Islam, like it or not, and that most of them enthusiastically agree with that position, to the point of turning in or executing their own families. That has got to change, or we will still be stuck with an intolerant Islam determined to conquer the whole world and convert or kill everyone, like it or not.
It is intolerable, but I'm not sure the US is in a position to do much besides helping this man leave Afghanistan safely.
Unless we're ready to form a puppet government in Afghanistan (and Iraq), we're going to have problems from now on with any government, elected by the citizens of that country, that adopts Sharia law.
We're also in no position to insist that the governments of Afghanistan (and Iraq) be composed to our specifications. The only way we can do that is to become an occupying country, and there's not much support for that here in the USA.
We're going to see lots of injustices from these new governments in the next few years. Lots. What will we do?
Let Afghan justice run it's course. Our liberation of the country doesn't give us the authority...or the power...to change the religion of the place. We'll only lose control if we try.
Get the Christian guy out of there with a deal, or engineer an "escape" with the collaboration of the government and have him get to a US unit, base or embassy and ask for asylum. This removes the threat to his life, and removes the threat to our puppet over there.
Oh, really? Suppose your religious belief is that the best way to gain paradise id to hijack a plane and fly it into a skyscraper full of "infidels"?
Islam decided early on to be non-evolving. Civilizations evolve, so it is no wonder Islamic countries are virtually uncivilized and uncivilizable by modern standards.
Islam is also determinate, and free will is not expected or accepted. The classic example is that when asked about whether Islam was like backgammon (primarily chance and set strategy) or chess (primarily intellect-driven, with evolving strategy) the Islamic elders equate Islam to backgammon.
With these perspectives in place, an apostate challenges the society's entire conception of the world. They either must kill him or destroy their understanding of Islam.
Which proves Islam is evil, in its current form.
"Conform or die" cannot be a loving G-d's message to humans. Only a spiteful man-fearing G-d could posit the elimination of man's natural free will. Such a G-d negates his creation.
IMHO.
He missed this part and that means his Article 7 says the state shall abide by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights where contrary to Islam is unconstitutional. Not vague at all really if you're a muslim, now is it?
>"We should have no illusions that Afghanistan -- in many ways the backwater of the Islamic world..."<
Islam is the *backwater* of the modern world. I'm becoming more and more convinced that Muslims cannot, or will not operate in any kind of freely elected democracy/republic. Their Sharia law does not coexist with freedom, or other religions.
Abdul Rahman faces the death sentence for converting to Christianity
Yesterday, a court spokesman said Rahman may not have to stand trial if he was proved mentally unfit."As far as I've noticed and been told, he might have a mental problem," Supreme Court spokesman Wakil Omar said.
"If he is proved mentally ill, then he wouldn't be tried."
The spokesman said Rahman would have his mental capability tested.
Observers said the court's announcement may be a sign that Afghanistan is seeking a way out of an increasingly embarrassing issue for US-backed President Hamid Karzai.
---------------------------
Afganistan: Insanity clause could save Christian convert(Christian clinically insane?)
Afghan clerics call for Christian convert's death
Senior Muslim clerics said Thursday that an Afghan man on trial for converting from Islam to Christianity should be killed regardless of whether a court decides to free him.
Abdul Rahman, a 41-year-old former medical aid worker, faces the death penalty for becoming a Christian under Afghanistan's Islamic laws. His trial, which began last week, has caused an international outcry. US President George W. Bush said Wednesday he was "deeply troubled" by the case and expects the country to "honor the universal principle of freedom."
Diplomats say the Afghan government is searching for a way to drop the case, and on Wednesday authorities said Rahman is suspected of being mentally ill and would undergo psychological examinations to see whether he is fit to stand trial.
But four senior clerics interviewed by The Associated Press in their mosques in Kabul said Rahman deserved to be killed for his conversion.