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Afghan Man Faces Execution After Converting to Christianity
By Benjamin Sand
Kabul

An Afghan man who recently admitted he converted to Christianity faces the death penalty under the country's strict Islamic legal system.  The trial is a critical test of Afghanistan's new constitution and democratic government.

The case is attracting widespread attention in Afghanistan, where local media are closely monitoring the landmark proceedings.

Abdul Rahman, 40, was arrested last month, accused of converting to Christianity.

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.

[Read on here.]

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Michelle Malkin has been staying on top of the situation here, here, here, and here .

This is definitely a serious matter, folks, but I don't think it's quite as urgent as Michelle lets on.  From farther down in that news item I excerpted:

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The court has ordered a delay in the proceedings to give Rahman time to hire an attorney.

Under Afghan law, once a verdict is given, the case can be appealed twice to higher courts.

[...]

If [Rahman is] convicted, the case could ultimately force President Hamid Karzai's direct intervention.

The president would have to sign the papers authorizing Rahman's execution, a move that could jeopardize Mr. Karzai's standing with human rights groups and Western governments.

So far, President Karzai has not commented on the case.

But political analysts here in Kabul say he will be under significant pressure from the country's hard-line religious groups to make an example of Rahman.

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I was absolutely astounded to find when I compared the blockquote in Michelle's first post on this to the article she links to that what she had quoted a series of non-contiguous paragraphs all in one quote with no indication she was leaving anything out. Maybe the first two paragraphs in my second blockquote just didn't fit the message she was trying to get across -- I guess I can forgive her for not quoting the last four paragraphs for space and "fair use" reasons but it's interesting to note how they change the flavor of the article.

Yes, Mr. Rahman has a problem and it's time for our government to put some major pressure on the Afghan government, but knowing that if the judge he's currently dealing with finds him guilty he's still tow appeals courts and one presidential signature from execution changes the picture at least a little, don't you think?

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Don't miss Greyhawk's latest Open Post.

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See also:

Fox News: U.S. Backs Afghan Man Who Converted to Christianity

CNN: Death could await Christian convert

Michelle Malkin: Video: "I Am Not An Apostate"

Posted by Bill Faith on March 21, 2006 at 09:45 PM | Permalink

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» Danish Politicians back Rahman to the hilt from Agora
Danish politicians have shown a remarkable amount of backbone in the case of Abdul Rahman who is on trial in Afghanistan for having converted from Islam to Christianity. Naser Khader of the Social Liberals and Søren Espersen of the Danish People̵... [Read More]

Tracked on Mar 22, 2006 11:21:48 AM

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