March 22, 2006

Abdul Rahman Update


As international pressure increases on Afghanistan the case of Abdul Rahman has become a front page example the cult like “threat of death” to those who leave Islam. Today Jawa Report co-blogger Richard at Hyscience has a good post and urges the we keep up the pressure.

Richard at Hyscience : Please note action items in extended post! 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.
The now increasing international pressure has caused Afghanistan to search for a face saving way to release Abdul. If you ask me calling the man crazy does not save much face.
AP via Yahoo News : But 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."
A Western diplomat in Kabul and a human rights advocate — both of whom spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter — said the government was desperately searching for a way to drop the case because of the reaction it has caused.

While that may result in his release it’s a piss poor way of doing business. I call on Afghanistan to release Mr. Rahman immediately and stop all this “He’s a nut” nonsense. Mr. Rahman was born a Muslim and raised as such. If, when he comes of age, he cannot convert that is not much “Freedom of Religion” now is it?

Past Jawa Report coverage here and here and here too.

By Howie at 10:20 AM | |