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March 20, 2006
"Religion of Piece"* update
We're always being reassured that the Secular and Judeo-Christian West is not in the midst of a war of civilizations; after all, there are three great monotheistic faiths, all of which are peaceful when practiced "correctly."
This sorta screws that argument up.
Afghan man faces death for Christian conversion
KABUL, Afghanistan -- An Afghan man is being prosecuted in a Kabul court and could be sentenced to death on a charge of converting from Islam to Christianity, a crime under the country's Islamic laws, a judge said yesterday.
The trial is thought to be the first of its kind in Afghanistan and highlights a struggle between religious conservatives and reformists over what shape Islam should take here four years after the ouster of the Islamic fundamentalist Taliban regime.
Abdul Rahman, 41, was arrested last month after his family accused him of becoming a Christian, Judge Ansarullah Mawlavezada said. Mr. Rahman was charged with rejecting Islam, and his trial was held Thursday.
During the one-day hearing, the defendant confessed that he converted from Islam to Christianity 16 years ago while working as a medical aid worker for an international Christian group helping Afghan refugees in the Pakistani city of Peshawar, Judge Mawlavezada said.
"We are not against any particular religion in the world. But in Afghanistan, this sort of thing is against the law," the judge said. "It is an attack on Islam."
Afghanistan's constitution is based on Shariah, Islamic law that is interpreted by many Muslims to require that any Muslim who rejects Islam be sentenced to death, said Ahmad Fahim Hakim, deputy chairman of the state-sponsored Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission.
The prosecutor, Abdul Wasi, said he had offered to drop the charges if Mr. Rahman converted back to Islam, but he refused. "He would have been forgiven if he changed back. But he said he was a Christian and would always remain one," Mr. Wasi said. "We are Muslims, and becoming a Christian is against our laws. He must get the death penalty."
After being an aid worker for four years in Pakistan, Mr. Rahman moved to Germany for nine years, his father, Abdul Manan, said outside his Kabul home. Mr. Rahman returned to Afghanistan in 2002 and tried to gain custody of his two daughters, now ages 13 and 14, who had lived with their grandparents their whole lives, the father said. A custody battle ensued, and the matter was taken to the police.
During questioning, it emerged that Mr. Rahman was a Christian and was carrying a Bible. He was arrested immediately and charged, the father said.
The Voice of America has more details.
Under Afghanistan's new constitution, minority religious rights are protected but Muslims are still subject to strict Islamic laws. And so, officially, Muslim-born Rahman is charged with rejecting Islam and not for practicing Christianity.
Appearing in court earlier this week Rahman insisted he should not be considered an infidel, but admitted he is a Christian. He says he still believes in the almighty Allah, but cannot say for sure who God really is. "I am," he says, "a Christian and I believe in Jesus Christ."Officials say his family, who remain observant Muslims, turned him over to the authorities.
On Thursday the prosecution told the court Rahman has rejected numerous offers to embrace Islam.
Prosecuting attorney Abdul Wasi told the judge that the punishment should fit the crime.
He says Rahman is a traitor to Islam and is like a cancer inside Afghanistan. Under Islamic law and under the Afghan constitution, he says, the defendant should be executed.
This is the first case in which the defendant has admitted to converting and is refusing to back down, even while facing the death penalty.
Wow, I'd hate to see a religion of violence and cruelty. Good thing we ran the Taliban out of town, 'cause they were the problem, not the Religion of Peace.
More on this at Captain's Quarter's and Michelle Malkin.
*Well, it's a Religion of Pieces, actually, given the eagerness by the most faithful adherents to hew to the rule that "An infidel and his head are soon parted."
Posted by Mike Lief at March 20, 2006 07:07 AM
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Comments
When strictly interpreted, the Quoran has some freightening news for the "infidel."
The black letter text is clearly aggressive enough to instill a large percentage of adherents to commit acts of oppression, violence and murder against non-believers all over the globe. This is born out by the fact that Islamic violence is preached and encouraged from the pulpit.
The French are currently at the doorstep of a sobering reality now that their Muslim population is hitting critical mass. As European Muslims become numerous and bold enough to challenge the cultural liberalism they find so offensive, conflict is bound to follow.
Islam appears to be as much a political movement as it is a religious one. You can bet that the current clash of cultures will extend for generations to come.
Posted by: Bill H. at March 20, 2006 08:26 PM