Posted on 03/29/2006 8:28:25 AM PST by areafiftyone
ROME (AP) Premier Silvio Berlusconi says the Afghan man who converted from Islam to Christianity is in Italy.
Italy is a little freaky in places, but it beats the h*ll out of the middle east insane asylum.
Good for Berlusconi and the Italians. I hope the man can live the remainder of his life peacefully, now.
Yes!
On the way back from the vet about 15 minutes ago, WLSAM radio (ABC affiliate) stated he was scheduled to arrive soon.
Obviously, this was VERY quiet.
The Lord is indeed merciful.
Where have you been anyway?, I haven't seen you.
Of course PB16 had something going, you heard his statement from the window Sunday?
Well, at least he shouldn't have ill thoughts (if you know what I mean)... but those in Islam will want to.
I have to go paint my cross on my tunic just in case... I'll start from the Bronx and Vlad my way to Rome if I need to (via the middle east of course).
You wouldn't believe this African that works at a Saudi/Yemeni store around the corner. We had a blowout... he said it's impossible for someone to convert to Christianity. I asked him is it impossible for someone to convert to Islam? (Of course, that's different to him)
I told him I have a DVD of Muslim converts he needs to see who are evangelicals (I know, not wise... but they can't all know each other).
I asked him whether he thought Abdul's bible in Arabic fell out of the sky or an angel gave it to him (dig)?
He asked what I meant; Someone had to translate, someone had to print it... they did that for one person, or do you think there may be one more convert in the world?
Now I talk to this guy everyday, I never saw the reaction he had. I also told him the Koran says God himself will take care of the non-believers and it wouldn't matter if they did kill him... the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church, just like Muslims don't mind dying... Christians don't for the Lord. Messed him up. I care.
So I guess I have a self-imposed local fatwa or a SILF for short.
Italy was named by OBL as one of the next targets for terror after Spain. They have to do what they have to do anyway. China next?
Now, if more converts start sneaking out or asking for asylum in Rome... those taught in madrassas may think about their faith more and about killing/attempting to kill their own re: ROP
You're right...
Not quiet enough... I want to know who leaked it.
Italy Welcomes Man Who Fled Afghanistan
ROME - Italy granted asylum Wednesday to an Afghan who faced the death penalty for converting from Islam to Christianity, and Premier Silvio Berlusconi said the man was in the care of the Interior Ministry after arriving in Italy earlier in the day.
Abdul Rahman "is already in Italy. I think he arrived overnight," Berlusconi said, declining to release more details.
Rahman's jailing in Afghanistan inspired an appeal by Pope Benedict XVI to Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and efforts by the United Nations to find a country to take him. Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini had been outspoken about the case from the start, saying Italy had a duty to make clear its "indignation." Conversion is a crime under Afghanistan's Islamic law. Rahman, 41, was arrested last month after police discovered him with a Bible. He was brought to trial last week for converting 16 years ago while working as a medical aid worker for an international Christian group helping Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Afghanistan's parliament had demanded earlier Wednesday that the government prevent Rahman from being able to flee the country. Germany, where Rahman once lived, praised the Italian offer. "This is a humanitarian signal and we welcome it," German government spokesman Thomas Steg said. Anticipating that Italy's Cabinet would approve Rahman's asylum, Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu said Tuesday that such a move would bring "all the forms of protection and assistance" related to recognizing refugee status. Italy has close ties with Afghanistan, whose former king, Mohammed Zaher Shah, was allowed to live with his family in exile in Rome for 30 years. The former royals returned to Kabul after the fall of the Taliban regime a few years ago. Italian troops were sent into Afghanistan after the U.S.-led invasion of the country in 2001 to help with reconstruction. Muslim clerics in Afghanistan condemned Rahman's release, saying it was a "betrayal of Islam," and threatened to incite violent protests. Some 500 Muslim leaders, students and others gathered Wednesday in a mosque in southern Qalat town and criticized the government for releasing Rahman, said Abdulrahman Jan, the top cleric in Zabul province. He said the government should either force Rahman to convert back to Islam or kill him. "This is a terrible thing and a major shame for Afghanistan," he said.
The worst insult they could throw at him was dropping the case of his being a Christian for "lack of evidence", and he did fine with that.
How many people convert to islam without anyone outside of the local mosque noticing it? Here is a muslim who converted to Christianity, and the whole world is following it. Excellent!
Dang! Did he agree to look at the DVD?
" or because the Afghanistan government respected the UN documents incorporated into their Constitution that specifically prohibit this kind of prosecution."
Can't find those specific prohibitions ... -
http://www.afghansite.com/afghanistan/afghanConstitution.asp
Afghanistan Constitution Article Seven Ch. 1, Art. 7The state shall abide by the UN charter, international treaties, international conventions that Afghanistan has signed, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The state prevents all types of terrorist activities, production and consumption of intoxicants, production and smuggling of narcotics.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 18.
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
Just don't puke on your shoes...
Thanks - walked right by it - Most UN stuff is garbage
So it appers that they avoided a Constitutional crisis by dealing with it the way they did - might have been a smart move - time will tell.
When I was growing up Italians and Poles were the butts of most of the ethnic jokes I heard.
Strangely, these days Poland and Italy seem to be the only two countries in Europe who take pride in their Christian heritage and are willing to do something about it without a lot of waffling.
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