Blow to Sharia Law.

Date: 2006-03-26

Afghan Convert Spared; Pope Made Plea


VATICAN CITY, MARCH 26, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI was one of many world leaders who appealed to the president of Afghanistan to spare the life of a man sentenced to death for converting to Christianity.

Officials today, in fact, said an Afghan court dismissed the case against Abdul Rahman, paving the way for his release as early as Monday. Muslim extremists, who have demanded death for Rahman, 41, as an apostate from Islam, warned the decision would trigger protests across Afghanistan.

On Saturday the Vatican press office reported that Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican secretary of state, wrote a letter March 22 in the Pope's name to President Hamid Karzai, to spare the life of Rahman.

The United States, Germany and Australia had also formally appealed for the life of the convert.

The Holy Father's appeal was based on "profound human compassion and firm belief in the dignity of human life, based on respect for the freedom of conscience and religion of every person," Cardinal Sodano's letter said.

The letter further stated that dropping the charges "would be the most significant contribution for our common mission to foster mutual understanding and respect among the different religions and cultures of the world."

Rahman was formally accused in a court of having converted to Christianity 15 years ago, while working in Pakistan with a group that assisted Afghan refugees.


Comment: This will lead to much unhappiness in many powerful muslim circles. They will see it for what it really is: a buckling of the Muslims to the religious sensibilities of the Christians. This is NOT what Islam is about, in the eyes of vast numbers of muslims. It is also a major international public humiliation to Sharia Law, which can be now be overturned in one of the most strongly muslim countries in the world.

Expect some very serious repercussion from this; probably an attack on a soft target like a famous church or church leader. President Karzai's life insurance policy will need to be strengthened.

Islam is NOT about seeing the 'other fellow's' point of view or working out a nice compromise, or celebrating that 'alls well that ends well'. Real Islam is not any of this.

From an Australian perspective, it would be useful to broaden our refugee intake criteria to specifically include persons who leave Islam, whether or not it is for another religious community or for no religious community at all.

Is anyone awake in Canberra?