Posted on 03/23/2006 5:04:32 PM PST by Proctor
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Afghan judge says courts will not bow to outside pressure in Christian convert case
Jeannie Shawl at 9:57 AM ET
[JURIST] Afghanistan Supreme Court Judge Ansarullah Mawlavizada said Thursday that Afghan courts will not bow to outside pressure in the case of Abdul Rahman [JURIST report], who has been jailed for converting to Christianity and who could face the death penalty [JURIST report] under Islamic sharia law [CFR backgrounder] if convicted of apostasy. Mawlavizada said that the "judiciary will act independently and neutrally" and said that the court's will follow the country's constitution [text], but stressed that Afghanistan [JURIST news archive] is an Islamic country. Mawlavizada said that a court will begin to consider Rahman's case in the next several days and noted that if a court sentences Rahman to death, the sentence would have to be upheld by Afghan President Hamid Karzai [BBC profile].
The case has drawn international outcry and has caused problems for Karzai, who depends on the support of international troops [NATO ISAF website] to maintain stability in the country. President Bush on Wednesday called the case "deeply troubling" [transcript], saying he was concerned "that a country we helped liberate would hold a person to account because they chose a particular religion over another." Bush said that the US would use its influence to "remind [Afghanistan] that there are universal values." Reuters has more.
5:36 PM ET - Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Thursday that he had received assurances from Karzai that Rahman will not face the death penalty. According to Harper, Karzai assured him that the situation would be resolved "in a way that fully respects religious rights, religious freedoms and human rights." AFP has more. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, meanwhile, called Karzai Thursday to seek a "favorable resolution" of the case. AP has more.
Well...perhaps the memory hole, like an overflowed septic tank, can only stand too much.
Better for the guy.
Karzai could veto the sentence, but what if he gets knocked off for a mad dog.
In January 2004, Bush had this to say about Afghanistan:
"We're making good progress, we really are, in parts of the world. Afghanistan has now got a constitution which talks about freedom of religion and talks about women's rights."
"Talk is cheap."
Understood that this stuff goes on in other countries, but the US took an active role in setting THIS country up, and President Bush said (see above) about it.
He set an expectation. He could have set it lower. That reasonable people are "disappointed" (to put it very mildly) should not come as a surpise to ANYBODY.
They'll probably move him to my neighborhood ~ either next door to the Palestinians, or across from the Iraqi General ~ maybe even up where Mengestu's closest relatives (who he was trying to kill) lived. House is vacant at the moment ~ and, there are a lot of Karzai family members in the area.
Even if so, the damage will have been done. The example will have been made and emphasized that any Muslim who does not toe the line faces execution and may evade that punishment only through extraordinary means.
Most will not press to test.
Why do you turn this into something about Bush?
The initial reaction to this story around here was quite defensinve, along the lines of "So that means we should leave Afghanistan! /sarcasm!!"
Re-read my post. I said it was amazing that suddenly the MSM discovered Christian persecution....and believe me bud I know a heck of a lot more about it than you do....unless you've spent more time in pakistan, egypt and other mid-east crapholes than I have.
Seems Bush is surprised.
No one could have foreseen Hamas winning the election - now they say no one could foresee Afghanistan prepare to execute Christians under Sharia law?
enough.
I agree. They didn't mind our Christian soldiers liberating them. They take money from Christian taxpayers.
The man who converted to Christianity? Because he got caught in Afghanistan with a Bible.
as much as I hate the MSM - and I do - this story is no hype and deserves the coverage.
Well at least he will get away from his wife who wants him cut into pieces.
I'm sorry, you obviously have me confused with someone else...there's a "find in forum" user search function if you are actually interesting in knowing any FReepers previous posts/positions. Try using it sometime....
And that's all it does George. Talk. Why? Because conservatives, not Republicans, have been stating for some time that a Western form of democracy will not fly in these nations. It has nothing to do with the quality of the people, their race, or anything of the sort. It has to do with the fact that the religion they choose to follow is incompatible with western ideals or forms of government. You can't 'spread democracy' in regions that don't want democracy, no matter how many rigged polls show the 'majority' of the people want it. They see the elections and all the other nonsense only as a way to get forces out of their nation. Then they will use those purple fingers to elect a theocracy. And within a generation, the Iraq/Iran relations will be much closer to final unification.
Expect issues like this to arise within Iraq by the end of the decade, if not sooner. Unfortunately my original timetable idea of theocracy in Iraq may have to be pushed up by 10-15 years. We could have a Persian superstate within our lifetimes.
If so, we go.
I like it...
American tax dollars at work in Afganistan... job well done!
Another "liberatated" country!
WTF!!!!!
"This is clearly an Afghan decision," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said. "They are a sovereign country."
So when Saddam ran the show it wasn't?
What a bunch of BS!
W is squandering everything!!!
Because Muhammad said: "He who relinquishes his faith, kill him". This was recorded in Sahi of al-Bukhari (part 9, p.19). A number of Islamic scholars also ascribe this statement to Muhammad. Let me suggest that you read "Behind the Veil - Unmasking Islam" by Abd El Achafi. This, and other books on Islam, can be purchased from Voice of the Martyrs .
What kind of "religion of peace" executes those who choose another religion?
This situation gives the lie to the entire "religion of peace" argument. This is another example of an Islamic nation's government using Islam to authorize the murder of non-Muslims.
I wish non-Muslims like George W. Bush would stop apologizing for the barbarism of barbarians.
This is a global war against barbarians who define their murderous intolerance by pointing to their own violence-based scriptures.
Islam is a dangerous and violent religion incompatible with the civilized world.
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