Afghan Man Faces Death for Allegedly Converting to Christianity

**knuckles** · 03-20-2006

Afghan Man Faces Death for Allegedly Converting to Christianity

Sunday , March 19, 2006

KABUL, Afghanistan — An Afghan man who allegedly converted from Islam to Christianity is being prosecuted in a Kabul court and could be sentenced to death, a judge said Sunday.

The defendant, Abdul Rahman, was arrested last month after his family went to the police and accused him of becoming a Christian, Judge Ansarullah Mawlavezada told the Associated Press in an interview. Such a conversion would violate the country's Islamic laws.

Rahman, who is believed to be 41, was charged with rejecting Islam when his trial started last week, the judge said.

During the hearing, the defendant allegedly confessed that he converted from Islam to Christianity 16 years ago when he was 25 and working as a medical aid worker for Afghan refugees in neighboring Pakistan, Mawlavezada said.

Afghanistan's constitution is based on Shariah law, which states that any Muslim who rejects their religion should be sentenced to death.

"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. ... The prosecutor is asking for the death penalty."

The prosecutor, Abdul Wasi, said the case was the first of its kind in Afghanistan.

He said that he had offered to drop the charges if Rahman changed his religion back to Islam, but the defendant refused.

Mawlavezada said he would rule on the case within two months.

Afghanistan is a deeply conservative society and 99 percent of its 28 million people are Muslim. The rest are mainly Hindus.

**Muezzin** · 03-20-2006

Originally Posted by knuckles

Afghan Man Faces Death for Allegedly Converting to Christianity

Sunday , March 19, 2006

KABUL, Afghanistan — An Afghan man who allegedly converted from Islam to Christianity is being prosecuted in a Kabul court and could be sentenced to death, a judge said Sunday.

So they're still just allegations. Okay.

The defendant, Abdul Rahman, was arrested last month after his family went to the police and accused him of becoming a Christian, Judge Ansarullah Mawlavezada told the Associated Press in an interview. Such a conversion would violate the country's Islamic laws.

Rahman, who is believed to be 41, was charged with rejecting Islam when his trial started last week, the judge said.

During the hearing, the defendant allegedly confessed that he converted from Islam to Christianity 16 years ago when he was 25 and working as a medical aid worker for Afghan refugees in neighboring Pakistan, Mawlavezada said.

Again, just allegations. Innocent until proven guilty and everything.

Afghanistan's constitution is based on Shariah law, which states that any Muslim who rejects their religion should be sentenced to death.

I can see where certain members may be going with news like this. I say abide by the laws of the land, even if one does not agree with them. I don't know if these allegations are true - I'll see if I can keep an eye on this trial.

**Michael Samuel** · 03-21-2006

While I agree that one should abide by the law of one's land, what does one do when the laws of the land conflict with the truth God has imprinted on one's heart?
Why should an individual be punished for following Christ?
In the Book of Daniel in the Bible, Daniel refused to obey a decree that he worship the king instead of God (Chapter 6). Daniel knew that he risked terrible punishment, but he knew where his line of dependence was — with God. Daniel chose to obey God, and when the king sought to punish him, God saved Daniel.
I don't know what will happen to this Afghan man who faces charges. I don't know if he will be saved. But the "easy" route would have been for him to live a lie and continue to tell his family he was a follower of Islam. For him to risk death means he is either delusional or a true believer in Christ Jesus. One would find it hard to name another reasonable alternative, since few men would die for something they believe is a lie.

**mahdisoldier19** · 03-21-2006

my friend when muslims were living in jerusalem during the Crusade, J/c what happen to them? I think the crusaders used crimes that made nature shudder against the helpless muslims.

**Michael Samuel** · 03-21-2006

Originally Posted by mahdisoldier19

my friend when muslims were living in jerusalem during the Crusade, J/c what happen to them? I think the crusaders used crimes that made nature shudder against the helpless muslims.

My friend, please do not tell me you are nursing grudges from the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries. Neither you or I were alive during the Crusades. How could I as a Christian have harmed you then? We must move past what happened almost 1,000 years ago, correct, my friend?

**i_m_tipu** · 03-21-2006

similar thread
http://www.islamicboard.com/world-af...apostates.html

Originally Posted by i_m_tipu

there r some people in my country is very active to covert very poor and Illiterate Muslim into other Religion. i wonder what is going on in Afghanistan (May Allaah help them)..

i really don't understand and tolerate it. it seem that it a game to make convert others by taking a very bad situation and Illiteracy of a man

they taking the advantage of the bad Situation of a people and offering them money and work in case of of converting..

this is very very low minded work......

I say Loud and clear that our base (The Holy Qur’an) is purer than u ever imagine and has no contradiction at all. the verse of Qur’an say about Science, future, past, earth, biology, medicine and so many thing which prove by all that the verse of Qur’an telling Absolutely accurate.

u say it's a Accident that the Qur’an telling the truth
Can u prove any of it's verse telling lie???????? which Revealed in 1400 yrs ago...

Allah say The Qur’an is the complete and protected by Allaah himself

can u say something close to my claim (of my base (The Qur’an)) on behalf of ur base???

May Allaah help u......

Peace

**Lush** · 03-21-2006

Isn't it funny that technically, a Muslim man can marry a "woman of the book," yet religious leaders in countries like Afghanistan would attempt to execute someone because of conversion to Christianity? Somebody, please kick Karzai out of his torpor!

**Knut Hamsun** · 03-21-2006

Isn't it funny that technically, a Muslim man can marry a "woman of the book," yet religious leaders in countries like Afghanistan would attempt to execute someone because of conversion to Christianity? Somebody, please kick Karzai out of his torpor!

Yup. This is the totalitarianism implicit in Shariah. Societies change and evolve, so to should law and order. This is so sad.

**mahdisoldier19** · 03-21-2006

Whats sad is you people who think he is 100 percent going to be executed cant really understand a news article when you read it. Reread the full article which the brother did not post and Read it sincerely and understand it.

**Muezzin** · 03-21-2006

Originally Posted by mahdisoldier19

Whats sad is you people who think he is 100 percent going to be executed cant really understand a news article when you read it. Reread the full article which the brother did not post and Read it sincerely and understand it.

Exactly. The article itself says he's 'allegedly' become Christian and 'could' face death. The trial is continuing, and he's not necessarily guilty. Asking questions about the validity of Sharia law is another topic entirely.

**HeiGou** · 03-21-2006

Originally Posted by Muezzin

Exactly. The article itself says he's 'allegedly' become Christian and 'could' face death. The trial is continuing, and he's not necessarily guilty. Asking questions about the validity of Sharia law is another topic entirely.

I don't know. Surely what upsets people here is not that this one man could die, but that Sharia law would condemn him to die and most people around here do not think that is a bad thing. It goes to the heart of why people post in this thread.

**Muezzin** · 03-21-2006

Originally Posted by HeiGou

I don't know. Surely what upsets people here is not that this one man could die, but that Sharia law would condemn him to die and most people around here do not think that is a bad thing.

Hey, all I say is live by the law of the land. That goes for this guy, it goes for the rioters over the cartoon row, it goes for murderers and rapists and paedophiles.

It goes to the heart of why people post in this thread.

True. Though I did think this thread was created more to stir up trouble than to promote discussion and understanding. Just my opinion, take it or leave it.

**HeiGou** · 03-21-2006

Originally Posted by Muezzin

Hey, all I say is live by the law of the land. That goes for this guy, it goes for the rioters over the cartoon row, it goes for murderers and rapists and paedophiles.

Absolutely. If that is the law, it is the law.

True. Though I did think this thread was created more to stir up trouble than to promote discussion and understanding. Just my opinion, take it or leave it.

I can see why you might think that. Actually it has been a fairly interesting discussion of the law as it applies to apostates and what most Muslims think about it. No doubt it also stirred up trouble, but it certainly promoted a lot of discussion.

**knuckles** · 03-21-2006

Look I'm tired of being accused of starting trouble when all I'm doing is showing an opposing view. If I wanted to start trouble I could say and post things a lot worst.

**j4763** · 03-21-2006

True. Though I did think this thread was created more to stir up trouble than to promote discussion and understanding. Just my opinion, take it or leave it.

Most of Fight&Die4Allah's threads could be classed the same

**Muezzin** · 03-21-2006

Originally Posted by knuckles

Look I'm tired of being accused of starting trouble when all I'm doing is showing an opposing view. If I wanted to start trouble I could say and post things a lot worst.

Ok. I apologise.

Originally Posted by HeiGou

I can see why you might think that. Actually it has been a fairly interesting discussion of the law as it applies to apostates and what most Muslims think about it. No doubt it also stirred up trouble, but it certainly promoted a lot of discussion.

As long as it stays civil and doesn't degenerate like umpteen other threads, I'm okay with it I guess.

**Cheb** · 03-21-2006

I dont understand why Christians would object to this when they have the same ruling in their religion. So do the Jews.

**HeiGou** · 03-21-2006

Originally Posted by Cheb

I dont understand why Christians would object to this when they have the same ruling in their religion. So do the Jews.

Really? Where does it say that in the New Testament?

Love the sig by the way. Canada?

**j4763** · 03-21-2006

Originally Posted by Cheb

I dont understand why Christians would object to this when they have the same ruling in their religion. So do the Jews.

Maybe but they dont enforce it now do they (times have changed)

Apparently you can only kill a welsh man with a bow and arrow on a Saturday (or something like that) according to British law (again times change)!