On the 23rd March 2006, Abdul Rahman is making headlines around the world as all eyes were focused on Afghanistan in seeing whether its people had religious liberty or were compelled to follow the state religion of Islam.
The WEA religious liberty reported Mr. Rahman was brought to trial after his extended family accused him of converting to Christianity where he was subsequently arrested after confessing his faith and holding onto the Bible. The trial beginning on March 14th 2006 was in recess while he was seeking for legal counsel. The punishment is death for apostates as prescribed under Islamic law if he refused to return to Islam.
This is a test case where Article 2 and 3 of the Afghanistan Constitution clashed. Article 3 states ‘no law can be contrary to the beliefs and provisions of the sacred religion of Islam.’ Article 2 guarantees religious liberty throughout the country.
Alexander Downer, the Australian Foreign Minister would express Australia’s concern about the possibility of imposing death on a person exercising their freedom to choose a religion.
His calls are being echoed around the world. President Bush expressed his ‘grave concerns’ and warned that Afghanistan was expected to ‘honour the universal principle of freedom.’
Nicholas Burns the U.S. undersecretary for political affairs promised the United States would respect the sovereignty of Afghanistan, but added Afghans should be given the freedom to choose one’s own religion, and he believed the constitution was in favour of this.
Meanwhile, some allies of the U.S were indignant and expressed displeasures over the situation. In Italy, former president Francesco Cossiga had written a letter to Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi urging him to withdraw Italian troops unless Afghanistan renounced the case. In Germany, an official promised to intervene in the situation and if necessary he will do whatever it takes to save Rahman’s life.
Canada expressed its commitment to establish the sense of human rights in the governance of Afghanistan, saying human rights must be a top priority in the Afghans.
Editor note: Z-Y Teoh in Malaysia contributed to some of the article.
Z-Y Teoh
Christian Today Correspondent