It could be worse.
Posted on 03/25/2006 2:44:38 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Re: Please stop the execution of Abdul Rahman
The Embassy of Afghanistan greatly appreciates public concern about Mr. Abdul Rahman. We have received a significant number of inquiries about his case, which initially involved a civil lawsuit in child custody filed by his family.
Please note that the Government of Afghanistan is fully aware of and pursuing the best ways to resolve his case judicially. It is too early to draw any conclusion about the punishment, and we appreciate public understanding of the sensitivity of religious issues.
The Afghan judicial system is currently evaluating questions raised about the mental fitness of Mr. Rahman, the results of which may end the proceedings. Hence we kindly request that the judicial process be given time to resolve Mr. Rahman case.
The Constitution of Afghanistan provides protection for freedom of religion. The Government of Afghanistan will ensure that the constitutional rights of its citizens, international principles, and the due judicial process are respected and implemented.
[My name and address]
March 24, 2006
Said T. Jawad
Embassy of Afghanistan
2341 Wyoming Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Dear Ambassador Jawad:
I am writing you today to ask the government of Afghanistan to urgently commit themselves to judicial reform and the upholding of international standards as Abdul Rahman, 41, reportedly faces calls for his execution in connection with his reported conversion from Islam to Christianity.
According to press reports, Abdul Rahman has been charged in a lower court with converting to Christianity over 15 years ago, while working in Peshawar, Pakistan, where he worked with a foreign NGO assisting Afghan refugees. Abdul Rahman has reportedly been accused of converting to Christianity by estranged members of his family, possibly in connection with a dispute over the custody of children.
State prosecutors, apparently relying on Article 130 of Afghanistan’s constitution, have charged Abdul Rahman for his alleged conversion. Article 130 enables prosecutors to bring forward cases of alleged crimes about which there is no codified law "in accordance with the Hanafi jurisprudence." The same article, however, calls on courts to rule "within the limits of the constitution" and "in a way to serve justice in the best possible manner."
Article 7 of the Constitution declares, moreover, that "the state shall abide by the UN Charter, international treaties, international conventions that Afghanistan has signed, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."
As a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the government of Afghanistan is bound to uphold Article 18, which provides that "everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion" and that "this right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice." In its General Comment on this Article, the Human Rights Committee, the panel of independent UN experts which examine states' implementation to the ICCPR, has stated that "the freedom to 'have or to adopt' a religion or belief necessarily entails the freedom to choose a religion or belief, including the right to replace one's current religion or belief with another or to adopt atheistic views, as well as the right to retain one's religion or belief." It further stated that "the use of threat of physical force or penal sanctions to compel believers or non-believers to adhere to their religious beliefs... to recant their religion or belief or to convert" is prohibited.
In order for "justice to be served in the best possible manner", as required by Article 130 of the Constitution, the authorities should ensure that international standards of justice, including human rights law, are accorded a primary place, as guaranteed by the Article 7 of the Constitution. I ask that President Hamid Karzai STOP these proceedings against Abdul Rahman, and move to ensure TRUE freedom of religion in this new democratic republic. Thank you.
Sincerely,
[My name]
I find it interesting that the Afghanistan court could basically find him crazy or disturbed, a la Soviet officials, and drop the case on that basis. So, anyone who converts from Islam will now be considered insane???
PING!
Would you be so kind as to change the word "regardin" to "regarding" in the title, so that this thread won't be visited by a legion of smart-alecks? Thanks.
Wrong....I can draw the conclusion that death is an inhumane punishment for converting from Islam to Christianity.
"we appreciate public understanding of the sensitivity of religious issues. "
I must confess I don't have a lot of understanding for killing people who change religion.
It could be worse.
This is a very important case. Should the Afghan government sentence this Christian to death, it will show the world how truly backwards Islam is. It will also indicate to the world that this war is not a war between civilizations, it is a war FOR civilization. Non-Muslims have a right to exist as equal citizens everywhere and anywhere.
Thank you for correcting the title. I appreciate it.
Unfortunately, this is a problem with "democracy," and why I am a "Constitution-based republican" (capitalizations intentional) who believes that human and civil rights must supercede the will of the electorate.
It sounds to me like he's saying that the fact that he will suffer some form of punishment is a foregone conclusion, and that the only question that remains is - what form will the punishment take.
Agreed. Bush should try spreading the ideas of liberty, contracts, rule of law, limited democracy, constitutional republicanism, and so on, rather than the vague and potentially tyrannical idea of democracy in general.
Originally, President Bush originally restrained himself from the word "democracy"...he used "freedom." Then, I don't know why, he dropped that concern. :-(
It would help the government to save face for the moment, but declaring this man insane would leave open the door to put to death future/other converts from Islam.
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