Martyrdom Nears For Afghan Christian Abdur Rahman, Take Action
Posted on March 22, 2006
Many of you have probably heard of the case of Abdur Rahman, an Afghan who could be sentenced to death for converting from Islam to Christianity.
Michelle Malkin has been following this closely and beating the drums for the U.S. to make a stand against this. I realize I am tardy to jump on this story, but I can not sit by while it happens and not raise my voice about it. As Richard at Hyscience says, “It’s time to draw a line in the sand.”
There are many times that the blogosphere steps forward and takes a community stand on an important issue. Saving the life of Abdur Rahman calls for such a stand, and it appears that the blogosphere is beginning to step up to the plate to do exactly that.
Many of you may not have heard of whats going on, because what should be headline news is mainly being ignored by the MSM. So…here is the most up to date info on the situation. Note that other governments, including Italy and Germany are making strong statements, America is taking a softer approach.
While an outraged Italy is threatening troop withdrawal over the situation, the United States government is cautiously monitoring Afghanistan’s prosecution of a Christian who faces the death penalty because he converted from Islam.
State Department spokeswoman Janelle Hironimus told WorldNetDaily U.S. officials will follow Abdul Rahman’s case closely and raise the issue with Afghan officials.
“We believe it is important that the Afghan authorities handle the case in a transparent manner,” she said. “Freedom of religion is fundamental to the existence of democracy and is protected under the Afghan constitution. It must be protected and practiced as well.”
Afghan Supreme Court judge Ansarullah Mawlavizada said Sunday that Rahman, 42, is being tried over his conversion from Islam to Christianity some 16 years ago. His relatives reportedly notified authorities about the conversion.
The constitution in Afghanistan is based on Sharia law, which states any Muslim who rejects his or her religion should be sentenced to death.
Prosecutor Abdul Wasi called Rahman a traitor, according to the Chicago Tribune.
“He is known as a microbe in society, and he should be cut off and removed from the rest of Muslim society and should be killed,” Wasi said.
At a State Department briefing yesterday, spokesman Sean McCormack responded to a question about Rahman, saying the U.S. brought up the case with Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah and is encouraging the government “to conduct any legal proceedings in a transparent and a fair manner.”
The reporter replied that it sounded as if the U.S. is only requesting fair play, asking, “Why don’t you simply ask that it be cancelled? I mean, what possible justification is there for putting someone on trial for changing his religion?”
McCormack responded that “this is a question of the Afghan constitution and its laws.”
“There are differing interpretations of it, and I think that that’s the issue with which they’re trying to grapple with,” the spokesman said.
In Rome, meanwhile, the Italian government confronted the Afghan ambassador, indicating Italy would withdraw troops unless Rahman is spared. Two of Germany’s cabinet members said they would intervene in the case if necessary, Reuters reported.
Where is Bush? Where are the the mainstream media? Where are the men and women of faith in Congress? Where is Secretary of State Rice?
Where are the “moderates” of the Muslim world and their allies in the West who tell us over and over that Islam is a religion of peace? Where is CAIR? Where are the Saudis who claim no one is persecuted for their beliefs in that Wahabbist haven?
Update: Even CAIR come to support Rahman.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CAIR CALLS FOR RELEASE OF AFGHAN CHRISTIAN
Islamic civil rights group says conversion a personal, not state matter(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/22/2006) – A prominent national Islamic civil
rights and advocacy group today called on the government of Afghanistan
to release Abdul Rahman, a man facing the death penalty for converting
from Islam to Christianity.The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) says
the man’s conversion is a personal matter not subject to the
intervention of the state.
Yesterday, the State Department’s Nicholas Burns adopted the right tone and substantive position when asked about the case by reporters. He said that, as far as the U.S. is concerned, the Afghan constitution guarantees religious liberty, and therefore Rahman shouldn’t be punished for his conversion. But he also emphasized our respect for Afghan sovereignty. It is important that, while we push for justice in the case, we don’t play into the hands of Karzai’s enemies, who are eager to capitalize on the fears of a very traditional society. We should make it clear privately, but very firmly to Karzai — who would have to sign Rahman’s death warrant — that we expect him to find some Afghan way to short-circuit the case before it ever gets to that point.
Conservatives in this country have been admirably willing to accept the compromises and frustrations that come with President Bush’s attempts to reform recalcitrant parts of the world. The judicial murder of a Christian convert by a government that exists only on the basis of American power and good will, however, would be intolerable.
Indeed this would be intolerable. As John Hindrocker notes:
“This is, I think, a watershed moment. The American people will bear a great deal of sacrifice, but only on behalf of principle. If, after our liberation of Afghanistan, a man may still be executed for being a Christian – or a Jew, although to my knowledge that case hasn’t arisen -there is no logical basis on which our government can continue to request the ultimate sacrifice from its most devoted supporters.”
However others disagree that we are taking the right tone.
And the Family Research Council’s Perkins said he’s sent letters to President Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) and Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ill.), the respective foreign affairs committee chairmen, telling them that Americans have not given their lives in Afghanistan so Christians can be executed.
“The judge in Rahman’s case soothingly assures us that all will be forgiven if he renounces his Christianity because ‘Islam is a religion of tolerance.’ Really?” asked Perkins.
Perkins is particularly upset with comments made by White House spokesman Sean McCormack, who said on Tuesday, “Freedom of worship is an important element of any democracy and these are issues as Afghan democracy matures that they are going to have to deal with increasingly.”
Said Perkins, “Religious freedom is not just ‘an important element’ of democracy; it is its cornerstone. Religious persecution leads inevitably to political tyranny. Five hundred years of history confirm this.”
Perkins has said that President Bush should send Vice President Cheney or Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Afghanistan to read the Afghan government the riot act.
“Americans will not give their blood and treasure to prop up new Islamic fundamentalist regimes,” he said earlier this week.
And perhaps International pressure is causing them to find that “Afghan way” to short-circuit things and save face…
Today the prosecutor Sarinwal Zamari said questions have been raised about his mental fitness.
“We think he could be mad. He is not a normal person. He doesn’t talk like a normal person,” he told The Associated Press.
Moayuddin Baluch, a religious adviser to President Hamid Karzai, said Rahman would undergo a psychological examination.
“Doctors must examine him,” he said. “If he is mentally unfit, definitely Islam has no claim to punish him. He must be forgiven. The case must be dropped.”
Quite lame…as is President Bush’s response.
Hyscience has a list of ways to take action:
Call the White House: 202-456-1111
Call the State Department: 202-647-4000
And call the Embassy of Afghanistan: 202-483-6410
(Or e-mail.)
Sign a Petition in support of Abdur Rahman, E-mail President Bush, and write the embassy of Afghanistan.
Ambassador Said T. Jawad
Embassy of Afghanistan
2341 Wyoming Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
info@embassyofafghanistan.org
Michelle Malkin announces a for Abdul Rahman outside the Afghan embassy in Washington, D.C. Thanks to the D.C. Freepers, a permit has been submitted to the D.C. police.
Come join in:
Friday March 24.
Noon to 1pm
Outside the Afghan Embassy
2341 Wyoming Ave NW.
Washington DC
Others:Riehl World View
Big Pharaoh
My Pet Jawa
Freedom Zone
Israpundit
Macsmind
Captain’s Quarters
» Filed Under Church And State, News, War On Terror
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2 Responses to “Martyrdom Nears For Afghan Christian Abdur Rahman, Take Action”
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Syndicate Me
Crazy that Bush would hide behind sovereignty in this instance when obliterating it in others.
Religious government is antithetical to freedom of conscience. What more proof do you need that separation of chuch and state is the best principle to preserve the individual’s right to believe.
I am extremely disappointed with the lack political cajones the President has shown in expressing public dissatisfaction with prosecuting a man who left Islam for Christianity.
However I suspect there are some back room deals going on. The whole mentally incapacitated thing is an out option for Rahman. I seriously doubt he is mentally incapacitated. One wonders if Rahman will play the political game or stick to his faith. I myself do not what to root for.