Christian Convert Faces Execution in Afghanistan

Middle East Times ^ | March 19, 2006

[rob777]

KABUL -- An Afghan man faces the death penalty for converting to Christianity, an Afghan supreme court judge said on Sunday.

Supreme Court Judge Ansarullah Mawlavizada said that Abdul Rahman, who converted from Islam to Christianity, is in police custody and that he could face the death penalty if he refused to become a Muslim again.

Abdul Rahman was detained two weeks ago after his relatives reported to the police about his conversion which is forbidden under Islamic Sharia law.

"Yes that's true, a man has converted to Christianity. He's being tried in one of our courts," Supreme Court judge Ansarullah Mawlavizada said, adding that his trial began early last week.

He said the man could face the death penalty if he refused to revert to Islam as Sharia law proposes capital punishment for any Muslim who converts to another religion. Afghanistan's constitution states: "No law can be contrary to the sacred religion of Islam."

If sentenced, the man will be the first to be punished for conversion since the ouster of the Taliban who introduced and implemented tough Sharia law.

The hardline Taliban regime was toppled by a US-led invasion in late 2001 for not handing over Al Qaeda chief, Osama Bin Laden, wanted for the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

[in hoc signo vinces]

For what we've done in that country...this is BS, surely, this is not true.

If it is, we need to reevaluate our being there.

[Borges]

Oh yeah it is....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=christianpersecution

[Blzbba]

"this is BS, surely, this is not true. "


Oh, it's true.

We've removed the Taliban and replaced it with....the Taliban, it appears.

[Gideons Trumpet]

Why should they not be entitled to punish those who violate their laws in the same manner we punish those who violate ours?

[wmfights]

"If sentenced, the man will be the first to be punished for conversion since the ouster of the Taliban who introduced and implemented tough Sharia law."
_____________________________

This has been posted before, but its good to remind everyone who the enemy is. Islam!

Cutting and running is not the answer. They will just follow us. We need to bring about a reformation.

[lugsoul]

Yeah, but it is a newer, more compassionate Taliban.

[kittymyrib]

So he gets to live in heaven instead of the Muslim hell of Afghanistan...not a bad trade at all. But we ought to pull out immediately and never spend another dime on that brutal bunch of pagan persecutors of Christ. Christians in the USA ought to insist on that as we defend the faith everywhere we can. That is part of being "faithful" as required by Jesus.

[in hoc signo vinces]

My point of reevaluation...perhaps we should truly "reform" the country...if no reform since the Taliban were overthrown has been made.

[Clock King]

The hardline Taliban regime was toppled by a US-led invasion in late 2001 for not handing over Al Qaeda chief, ...

Biased reporting??? How about the talking about the evil the Taliban did to women and others long before most of the people in the West even knew where Afghanistan was?

[Cronos]

Dude, at the very least it's progressed from no-courts, instant execution to this kangaroo court (a.k.a. Shariah court) -- not much, but still a progress. Afgh isn't near religious freedom yet, but it's moving there. We need to stand up for this man's right to convert and NOT pull out just when Karzai's govt needs us the most...

[ziggygrey]

"this is BS, surely, this is not true. "

Oh, it's true. We've removed the Taliban and replaced it with....the Taliban, it appears.

I'm waiting to hear the outrage from Washington...our troops are still dying over there.. and for what?

[CTMRIop]

It is true. US and NATO allies are pressuring the new government there to stop this. You can bet that as soon as we are gone from there, that place will revert to Taliban rule.

It's absolutely absurd that we have to "pressure" them to behave like human beings, after all our troops have sacrificed. Maybe it's time to take off and nuke the place from orbit.

[Cronos]

But we ought to pull out immediately and never spend another dime on that brutal bunch of pagan persecutors of Christ. Christians in the USA ought to insist on that as we defend the faith everywhere we can.

Your first statement is at loggerheads with your second. We must stay in Afgh and defend the faith there.

[Rakkasan1]

this is "their" democracy.

[Clock King]

I hate to say this, but if this story is true, Ann Coulter was right.

[wmfights]

"perhaps we should truly "reform" the country...if no reform since the Taliban were overthrown has been made."
____________________________

How do we lead them out of the Dark Ages and into modernity?

BTW, I agree that if they are so barbaric to harm this SAINT a true reformation is needed.

[in hoc signo vinces]

It would seem so.

[wmfights]

"Christians in the USA ought to insist on that as we defend the faith everywhere we can. That is part of being "faithful" as required by Jesus."
____________________________--

Maybe we should insist that Missionaries be allowed to establish churches there, or all muslim places of worship in the USA be closed.