Afghan Man Faces Execution After Converting to Christianity

[tinybear]

An Afghan man who recently admitted he converted to Christianity faces the death penalty under the country's strict Islamic legal system. The trial is a critical test of Afghanistan's new constitution and democratic government.

The case is attracting widespread attention in Afghanistan, where local media are closely monitoring the landmark proceedings.

Abdul Rahman, 40, was arrested last month, accused of converting to Christianity.

Under Afghanistan's new constitution, minority religious rights are protected but Muslims are still subject to strict Islamic laws.

And so, officially, Muslim-born Rahman is charged with rejecting Islam and not for practicing Christianity.

Appearing in court earlier this week Rahman insisted he should not be considered an infidel, but admitted he is a Christian.

He says he still believes in the almighty Allah, but cannot say for sure who God really is. "I am," he says, "a Christian and I believe in Jesus Christ."

Rahman reportedly converted more than 16 years ago after spending time working in Germany.

Officials say his family, who remain observant Muslims, turned him over to the authorities.

http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-03-18-voa7.cfm

Here's my question: Why is this guy still subject to Muslim law? He's a Christian for Christ's sake!!!

[Amuse]

Quote by: tinybear An Afghan man who recently admitted he converted to Christianity faces the death penalty under the country's strict Islamic legal system. The trial is a critical test of Afghanistan's new constitution and democratic government. The case is attracting widespread attention in Afghanistan, where local media are closely monitoring the landmark proceedings. Abdul Rahman, 40, was arrested last month, accused of converting to Christianity. Under Afghanistan's new constitution, minority religious rights are protected but Muslims are still subject to strict Islamic laws. And so, officially, Muslim-born Rahman is charged with rejecting Islam and not for practicing Christianity. Appearing in court earlier this week Rahman insisted he should not be considered an infidel, but admitted he is a Christian. He says he still believes in the almighty Allah, but cannot say for sure who God really is. "I am," he says, "a Christian and I believe in Jesus Christ." Rahman reportedly converted more than 16 years ago after spending time working in Germany. Officials say his family, who remain observant Muslims, turned him over to the authorities. http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-03-18-voa7.cfm Here's my question: Why is this guy still subject to Muslim law? He's a Christian for Christ's sake!!!

He is a soldier for Christ. Soldiers are willing to die for what they believe in no matter the cause.

[grandpa]

Quote by: Amuse He is a soldier for Christ. Soldiers are willing to die for what they believe in no matter the cause.

This is a good example of why non-secular government does not work?

Grandpa h.

[Scribbler1]

I think the point here is not what he is willing to die for, but what the Islamic government is willing to KILL for.

[tinybear]

Indonesia's victims of faith

Friday, March 24, 2006

`Deviant thinkers' are being persecuted as conservatism grows among nation's Muslims, writes Richard Paddock

Yusman Roy, a former boxer and a convert to Islam, is serving two years in prison because he believes that Muslims should understand the meaning of their prayers.

Roy, who led bilingual prayer sessions at his small East Java boarding school, is seen as a heretic by conservative Muslims in Malang, Indonesia.

They believe true prayer can be conducted only in Arabic.

Roy's desire to pray in Indonesian has sparked such an outrage that he was convicted last year in criminal court of "spreading hatred." Animosity toward Roy ran so high that police posted guards to keep a mob from torching his house and school.

Now, he is kept in a cell by himself at overcrowded Lowokwaru Prison, and the warden has warned him not to preach to his fellow inmates in any language.

Indonesia is a democratic, secular country, and there is no constitutional basis for using Islamic law in court in most regions. But insulting a religion is a crime, and a fatwa, or religious edict, issued by the Council of Ulemas can carry great weight as evidence of an alleged offense to Islam.

Indonesia, which has at least 190 million Muslims - the world's largest Islamic population - has become increasingly conservative since the 1998 collapse of President Suharto's military regime. In recent years, the government has become more active in enforcing religious law.

In recent months, fatwas issued by the Council of Ulemas and its regional councils denouncing clerics and cults as deviant have been followed by arrests, prosecution and mob violence.

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_d...632&con_type=1

Scary, ain't it?

[Amuse]

The christians are just as guilty of the same attrocities. Just look at history.

[Amuse]

Quote by: grandpa This is a good example of why non-secular government does not work? Grandpa h.

The question should be asked- Is the current American Government secular or not?
How many laws are non-secular based at both state and federal level? Some states have dry counties- sounds relgious based to me.

[Rave7pt0]

No, it's not, but that's a discussion for another time.

[bishop]

i wonder whether/not we should impose certain penalties for afghanistan's decision.. foreign aid isn't an entitlement, you know..

not that i necessarily care all that much about this individual, but the fact that someone could be killed solely because of their beliefs is unconsciable. this is not how a civilized society behaves.

[tinybear]

That's why I have said time and again Muslim sharia law should be abolished. It ain't civilized.

[tinybear]

Quote by: Amuse The christians are just as guilty of the same attrocities. Just look at history.

History is history. Look at the present.

[Athena]

Quote by: Scribbler1 I think the point here is not what he is willing to die for, but what the Islamic government is willing to KILL for.

It is both what religious people are willing to die for and what they are willing to kill for.
Why does it appear we know nothing of history?

Christians and Muslims have fought each other since the beginning of these religions. Repeatedly Christians crusaded against Muslims. Then for many years, Catholics and Protestants fought each other. Prussia was able to take control of Germany, because of the 30 Years War that devastated Germany, and started as a war between Protestants and Catholics. In the US religious pursecution continued. No came here for religious freedom. Religious freedom was more protected in Britan. By moving to the US these people had the space and distance they needed to have their own religiously intolerant colonies and they fought each other when their colonies grew too close.

Okay, drop the self righteousness. Christianity is not better. It is more influenced by principles of democracy as they orginated in Athens, but no one understands this, so it is hypocritical to say this is what defending in our present wars with Muslims. We are in their land, and maybe what we are doing there is not a good thing, or may be it could be done in a better way? May I suggest Christians stop pushing their religion and start spreading democracy? First they need to learn what it is.

[Athena]

Quote by: tinybear History is history. Look at the present.

Tiny, the past is not forgotten, especially not in Muslim countries. This is having a strong impact on what is happening today. Nothing is more important at the moment then being sensitive to that history. Human beings get caught up in their drama, and this religious conflict between Christians and Muslims, is one of the biggest dramas of human history.
What is happening now is not a new event but the continuation of centuries of conflict.

It was wrong to establish Israel, and it is wrong for Christian missionaries to go into Muslim territory with the intent of converting. Both are like walking into someone's house and taking over as though it were house to do with as you please. It is bad manners. That makes it immoral. The trouble is the result of being immoral.

[Sonart]

.

Quote by: tinybear That's why I have said time and again Muslim sharia law should be abolished. It ain't civilized.

I thought that's why we were pushing democracy down their throats... so they could decide for themselves.




.

[tinybear]

That's just it. Most of them can't decide for themselves.

[tinybear]

Hey listen to this guys:

"The Prophet Muhammad has said several times that those who convert from Islam should be killed if they refuse to come back," says Ansarullah Mawlafizada, the trial judge.

"Islam is a religion of peace, tolerance, kindness and integrity. That is why we have told him if he regrets what he did, then we will forgive him," he told the BBC News website.


What a load of bull.....

[Chris the Chees]

Quote by: tinybear History is history. Look at the present.

I do, have you ever heard of Ireland? Uganda? Tripura? Burma? Nagaland?

[tinybear]

Quote by: Chris the Chees I do, have you ever heard of Ireland? Uganda? Tripura? Burma? Nagaland?

Care to elaborate?

[Scribbler1]

Quote by: Amuse The christians are just as guilty of the same attrocities. Just look at history.

If you look at history you will find a precedent for almost any antisocial act. It still doesn't make it right that someone did it before.

[Scribbler1]

Quote by: Sonart . I thought that's why we were pushing democracy down their throats... so they could decide for themselves. .

That is why democracy will NEVER, EVER work over there. Their religion comes before all else and since that is the case there is no point in installing democracy. They already HAVE a a government based on religion and they would never repudiate anything IN that religion. Ergo, no point pushing democracy because freedom doesn't work.