Christian seeks Asylum outside Afghanistan

Mon. Mar. 27 2006

The United Nations says the Afghan man who faced execution for converting to Christianity is appealing for asylum in another country.

UN spokesman Adrian Edwards said the world body was working with the Afghan government to meet 41-year-old Abdul Rahman's request.

"Mr. Rahman has asked for asylum outside Afghanistan," he said. "We expect this will be provided by one of the countries interested in a peaceful solution to this case."

Earlier, several hundred people rallied in northern Afghanistan against a court decision to dismiss the case against Rahman.

The protesters chanted "Death to Bush!" and other anti-Western slogans, and warned the international community to back off.

The protest ended peacefully about two hours after it started in Mazar-i-Sharif, said police commander Nasruddin Hamdrad.

The case against Rahman was dropped by an Afghan court on Sunday because of a lack of evidence, but also partially because of concerns he is mentally unfit to face trial, officials said.

The court decision followed mounting pressure and criticism from Western governments, which have troops serving in Afghanistan and provide crucial foreign aid to the impoverished country.

Rahman, who potentially faced execution for his religious conversion, is widely expected to be released soon.

However, prosecutors have said they want doctors to examine Rahman, but have not confirmed he would be released.

An Afghan government official closely involved with the case told The Press that authorities were debating how and when Rahman would be released.

The same official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, had earlier said Rahman would not have to remain in jail while prosecutors investigate whether to bring another case against him to the courts.

Meanwhile, there is concern over the public's response to Rahman should he be released.

Senior Muslim clerics have demanded Rahman be put to death, warning that if the government caves in to mounting international pressure and frees him, they will incite people to "pull him into pieces."

Rahman is currently being held at Kabul's notorious high-security Policharki prison. He was moved there Friday after inmates at a police detention facility reportedly threatened him.

A senior guard said inmates and many guards had not been informed of Rahman's identity for fears he may be threatened.

The case is sensitive for Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, who depends on foreign troops to battle militants and foreign aid to support the economy. At the same time, he must also take into consideration the Muslims who support Islamic law.

Rahman told a judge at a preliminary hearing earlier this month that he became a Christian while working for an international aid group helping Afghan refugees in Pakistan some 15 years ago.

He was arrested last month after it was disclosed in a civil child custody case with his wife that he had converted to Christianity.

No country has yet offered asylum to Rahman, said an official familiar with the case who declined to be named because of its sensitivity.

Asked whether the U.S. government was doing anything to secure Rahman's safety after he is released, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in Washington that where he goes after he is freed "is going to be up to Mr. Rahman."

He urged Afghans not to resort to violence even if they are unhappy with the resolution of the case.

CFPA: When Mr. Rahman is released his life will not be worth two cents and since no country to date has had the guts to offer him asylum he will more than likely be murdered by the Muzis in his country.

27 Mar 2006