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The U.S. has threatened to completely pull out of Afghanistan if they go ahead and try a Christian through sharia law, for converting from Islam to Christanity. This "sin" is punishable by death under Shariah law.
This man converted over ten years ago and refuses to denounce Jesus, and would rather face death!

Here's the full story...

Man to be executed in Afghanistan for being a Christian
In spite of freeing Afghanistan from the iron thumb of the Taliban, an Afghani court is poised to condemn a Christian to death because he left Islam to become a Christian.

Abdul Rahman, believed to be 41, converted to Christianity while living in Germany. But when he returned to Afghanistan he found his children in the custody of their grandparents. When he tried to gain custody back, it was exposed that he had converted from Islam to Christianity, something that Shariah law demand the death penalty for.

Even though he has been promised the charges will be dropped if he converts back to Islam, Rahman refuses, and would rather die proclaiming his faith in Jesus Christ than live as a Moslem. The original meaning of the word martyr is "witness" and that's certainly the example here. What a witness to Rahman's faith is as opposed to the lack of faith these Afghani Moslems have in their own religion.

What do Moslem fear? Why must they force people to remain in their religion on the threat of death? Why is it that even though the Quran says, "Let there be no compulsion in religion" (2:256); these laws still exist. How is killing someone because he converts from Islam to Christianity not compulsion? It looks to me like the Afghani Moslems have very little faith in their religion. They are the ones attacking Islam by treating it as some vile belief that could only be accepted by threat of death.

When you are willing to kill people who leave your "religion" and are willing to kill yourself in an attempt to kill people who are not of your "religion" then perhaps it's not a religious you're following—but a maniacal, insane delusion. It also make one wonder about the kind of people who would get mad at Pat Robertson for logically observing that such practices would suggest demonic influence. If you believe demons exist, why wouldn't they be involved in such insanity?

This is unbelievable! The allies saved that country, and helped implement a democracy. A democratic country is bound by the standards of democracies throughout the world. This man has committed no crime, but if he is to be tried, it must be in front of a democratic justice system and not Shariah law!

What great faith this man has!

In other news, there is a radio broadcast tonight on end times where  Irvin Baxter, will discuss America in biblical prophecy.
Here is a link to this fella's web site. There is a link on his site that will give you times and access to the live broadcast.

I don't know this person, so if he turns out to be a nut it's not my fault! ;)

http://www.endtime.com/ (http://www.endtime.com/)

I'm ecstatice that the U.S. is taking a strong stance on this but I see a bigger problem for both the U.S. and Aphganistan is we pull out of there right now.

Kabul may drop case, citing convert's depression
Sources say Christian has suffered mentally but is 'strong' believer in Jesus


While Afghan prosecutors, amid political pressure, apparently are trying to find a face-saving way to drop their case against a convert from Islam by calling him 'mad,' sources close to Abdul Rahman say that despite suffering bouts of depression, he has a strong, genuine faith in Jesus Christ.

An aid worker who knew Rahman "very well" during her time of service in Peshawar, Pakistan, and asked not to be identified, told WorldNetDaily she spoke Tuesday by telephone with the Afghan Christian's sister-in-law.

The relative, who lives in Germany, told the source Rahman had suffered from time to time from depression after having returned to Afghanistan from Germany in 2002 to recover two teenaged daughters who were living with his parents in Kabul.

Also, sources for the U.S.-based Christian group Voice of the Martyrs confirmed Rahman has experienced depression in the past, which may "give the Afghan legal system a face-saving way out in a case that has drawn international attention and criticism."

Rahman's trial on the charge he violated Afghanistan's Islamic-law code by converting to Christianity started last week, but a state prosecutor said yesterday the 42-year-old might not be fit to stand trial.

An aide to President Hamid Karzai said Rahman would be given a psychological examination and prosecutors will drop the case if he's determined to be mentally unfit.

When Rahman came back to Afghanistan for his daughters his father resisted, denouncing his son as a convert and reporting him to police. Rahman immediately was arrested and a Bible was found in his possession.

An Afghan Christian in the U.S. who has regular contact with Christians in his home country through his ministry, posted a video clip of Rahman on his website which shows, he believes, that Rahman is in his right mind.

Hussain Andaryas told WND Rahman's clear declaration of faith in the clip is not the action of a crazy man but a courageous, "joyous" believer in Jesus who is inspiring many Afghan Christians.

Rahman says in the clip, according to Andaryas: "The punishment by hanging? I will accept it gladly, but I am not an infidel. I am not a traitor. I am a follower of Jesus."

Andaryas asked: "How can a man be mentally unfit when he boldly says, 'I'm not an infidel and not a traitor,' that he's a follower of Jesus not afraid to be put to death?"

Andaryas noted Rahman's stand for faith has been a great source of inspiration.

"I personally, in my faith, I have been encouraged just to hear this man," he said.

The former aide worker in Pakistan who knew Rahman affirmed he has been an encouragement to many Afghan Christians.

"We need strong people like him as an example for others," she said.

Andaryas, who says he has the names of 6,000 Christians in Afghanistan, is receiving e-mails throughout the day from his home country, and most in recent days are about Rahman.

Yesterday, one of his correspondents in the country reported he interviewed Afghans on the street and many, who are Muslims, have sympathy for Rahman, believing he should be allowed to practice his beliefs.

Afghanistan's new constitution declares "followers of other religions (other than Islam) are free to exercise their faith and perform their religious rites within the limits of the provisions of law."

But it also says "the religion of the state is the sacred religion of Islam" and that Shariah, or Islamic, Law is the controlling legal authority. Under Shariah, in many Muslim countries, anyone who abandons Islam is subject to the death penalty.

Andaryas, pointing out he is grateful to the U.S. for liberating his country from the Taliban, said he has been disappointed at the Bush administration's response to Rahman's prosecution, in contrast to the approach taken by Germany, Italy, Australia and Canada.

U.S. State Department spokesmen have said in the past two days they are monitoring the situation and want to see religious freedom upheld, but they have been unwilling to condemn the process outright, saying they trust the Afghan system to come up with the right solution.

Italy, on the other hand, has threatened to withdraw troops and Canada, Andaryas pointed out, said it didn't lose soldiers in Afghanistan so the new government could hang people.

"I wish our State Department could say it like that," he said.

President Bush yesterday said in a speech he was "deeply troubled" that Afghanistan's "young democracy" was trying a person for religious conversion.

"We expect them to honor the universal principle of freedom," Bush said. "I'm troubled when I hear, deeply troubled when I hear, the fact that a person who converted away from Islam may be held to account. That's not the universal application of the values that I talked about. I look forward to working with the government of that country to make sure that people are protected in their capacity to worship."

Earlier yesterday, Afghan prosecutor Sarinwal Zamari said of Rahman, "We think he could be mad. He is not a normal person. He doesn't talk like a normal person."

Moayuddin Baluch, a religious adviser to Karzai, said Rahman will have to undergo a psychological examination.

"Doctors must examine him," he told the Associated Press. "If he is mentally unfit, definitely Islam has no claim to punish him. He must be forgiven. The case must be dropped."

Western observers in Afghanistan say the government is looking for a face-saving way to drop the case in light of the international firestorm it has caused.

Although some nations have challenged Afghanistan to free Rahman – Italy reportedly has threatened to withdraw its troops if the Christian convert is executed – the U.S. has thus far responded in a cautious manner.

Tuesday, State Department spokeswoman Janelle Hironimus told WorldNetDaily U.S. officials will follow Abdul Rahman's case closely and raise the issue with Afghan officials.

"We believe it is important that the Afghan authorities handle the case in a transparent manner," she said. "Freedom of religion is fundamental to the existence of democracy and is protected under the Afghan constitution. It must be protected and practiced as well."

If sentenced, Rahman apparently would be the first person punished for leaving Islam since the Taliban was ousted by American-led forces in late 2001.

Afghan judge: We won't
bow to outside pressure
Islamic clerics say even if Christian convert released, they'll 'cut off his head'


Despite an international outcry over the prospect of "liberated" Afghanistan executing a former Muslim for converting to Christianity, a judge dealing with the case today said his nation's judiciary will ignore outside pressure and act "independently."

Yesterday, hopes were rising that 42-year-old Abdul Rahman would be spared, amid widespread reports Afghanistan's government was attempting to find a face-saving way to free the man facing a death penalty.

Afghan prosecutors reportedly claimed Rahman – facing death for converting 16 years ago from Islam to Christianity – might be "mad," and therefore not prosecutable.

Rahman is charged with rejecting Islam, a crime under Afghanistan's Shariah-based laws.

"We think he could be mad. He is not a normal person. He doesn't talk like a normal person," prosecutor Sarinwal Zamari told the Associated Press.

"Doctors must examine him," Moayuddin Baluch, a religious adviser to President Hamid Karzai, said according to the same report. "If he is mentally unfit, definitely Islam has no claim to punish him. He must be forgiven. The case must be dropped."

But today, Afghan Supreme Court judge Ansarullah Mawlavizada said, "Afghanistan is an Islamic country and its judiciary will act independently and neutrally," according to a Reuters report. "No other policy will be accepted apart from Islamic orders and what our constitution says," Mawlavizada added.

Yesterday, in a speech, President Bush said of the Rahman case: "It is deeply troubling that a country we helped liberate would hold a person to account because they chose a particular religion over another. We have got influence in Afghanistan and we are going to use it to remind them that there are universal values.

Mounting pressure from the United States, Britain, Italy, Germany and other nations has been directed at Afghanistan over the case.

And within the U.S., concern over the fact that despite some 300 American lives being lost in liberating Afghanistan, a Christian can be put to death under the new Afghan constitution, is high.

"How can we congratulate ourselves for liberating Afghanistan from the rule of jihadists only to be ruled by Islamists who kill Christians?" asked Tony Perkins, head of the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C. "President Bush should immediately send Vice President Cheney or Secretary Rice to Kabul to read Hamid Karzai's government the riot act. Americans will not give their blood and treasure to prop up new Islamic fundamentalist regimes. Democracy is more than purple thumbs."

Karzai, Afghanistan's new president, is caught in the middle, since he relies on foreign troops to keep Taliban and al-Qaida terrorists in check but also is beholden to the Islamic clerics in his country and Shariah law, which is part of the new constitution.

Although the Afghan prosecutor said Rahman would not be executed if he were found to be mentally unstable, Rahman said recently at a hearing that he is not mentally and would defend himself.

"I'm not an apostate" Rahman told the hearing. "I'm obedient to God but I'm a Christian, that's my choice."

Whether or not the Afghan judiciary spares Rahman, today senior Muslim clerics insist he must be executed – and that if the government gives in to international pressure and frees Rahman, the clerics will instruct the people to "pull him into pieces."

"Rejecting Islam is insulting God. We will not allow God to be humiliated. This man must die," said cleric Abdul Raoulf, according to an Associated Press report.

"He is not crazy," added Hamidullah, chief cleric at Haji Yacob Mosque, according to the AP report. "He went in front of the media and confessed to being a Christian. The government is scared of the international community. But the people will kill him if he is freed."

Raoulf, who belongs to Afghanistan's main Islamic organization, the Afghan Ulama Council, said: "The government are playing games. The people will not be fooled."

"Cut off his head!" he told AP while seated outside the Herati Mosque. "We will call on the people to pull him into pieces so there's nothing left."

The report I received about the U.S. pulling out were erronious.
However, there is a strong reaction coming from the U.S.

If this is the actions of  moderate Islam, itmakes me wonder if there is any hope of having a sfae, peaceful middle east at all.
Why should we help these kind of people at all? It seems like one Thaliban was kicked out and another has taken their place.
The constitution includes a "freedom of religion" clause, but apparantly that is superceeded by Sharriah law, which was not mentioned during the constitution talks.

John

I have yet to see a "moderate" islamists. When a person goes into islam it is always full out.

Rice Calls Karzai on Christian Convert's Fate

WASHINGTON — Concerned about the fate of a Christian convert in Afghanistan on trial for his life, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice telephoned Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Thursday seeking a "favorable resolution" of the case.

"This is a very deeply concerning development in Afghanistan and we have raised it at the highest levels,” Rice said during a press conference with the Greek minister of foreign affairs. “We look forward to hopefully to a resolution to this in the very near future."

Abdul Rahman, 41, a medical aid worker, converted from Islam to Christianity 16 years ago, a fact that came out publicly during a civil custody case between him and his wife in front of local authorities. The authorities charged him with rejecting Islam, a crime under the country's Shar'ia-based law. The penalty, if guilty, is death.

Rice said religious freedom is the heart of democracy and hoped Afghanistan would uphold those principles in its Constitution in considering Rahman's case.

“We have raised it in the strongest possible terms to make clear that it is our great hope and desire that Afghanistan will reaffirm what is already in its constitution, that the universal declaration on human rights will be respected, and that this will be resolved in a way that is consistent with those principles," Rice said.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack reported that Rice underlined to Karzai the "fact that the United States stands forthrightly for principles of freedom of worship, freedom of expression, and that these are bedrock principles of democracy around the world, these are principles that are enshrined in the Afghan constitution and they're principles that are enshrined in the U.N. Universal Declaration on Human Rights," he said.

"We're looking for a favorable resolution at the earliest possible time," McCormack added.

On Wednesday, President Bush said he was troubled by the possible decapitation.

"I'm troubled when I hear, deeply troubled when I hear, the fact that a person who converted away from Islam may be held to account. That's not the universal application of the values that I talked about. I look forward to working with the government of that country to make sure that people are protected in their capacity to worship," Bush said.

At the White House on Thursday, spokesman Scott McClellan said he was aware of Rice's call, but had not gotten a readout yet of the content. He said the administration will continue to stay in close contact with the Afghan government "and work with them to make sure that people's religious freedoms are protected."

In deference to the country's sovereignty, Rice evidently did not demand specifically that the trial be halted and the defendant released.

"This is clearly an Afghan decision to take. They are a sovereign government. It's a sovereign country. But as I pointed out, we believe that it is important that as the issue is resolved, that those fundamental principles of freedom of religion, freedom of expression are affirmed in the resolution of this case," McCormack said.

Still, her direct appeal to a foreign leader in a proceeding in his country is an unusual move. Rice also spoke to outgoing Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah earlier this week. Abdullah is in Washington, D.C., where he spoke Thursday at American University.

In the question and answer session, Abdullah said that he didn't want this situation to happen, but Afghanistan's exercise of its judicial system is in line with the constitution and its development of a democratic nation.

"We're aware of the fact that there might be different interpretation. It was not in the executive branch, it has been in the judicial. What are the options for the president and for the government, I'm not going to comment on that. I'm sure there will be a solution," he said.

In Afghanistan, Supreme Court judge Ansarullah Mawlavizada told Reuters that "Afghanistan is an Islamic country and its judiciary will act independently and neutrally. ... No other policy will be accepted apart from Islamic orders and what our constitution says."

Amnesty International also weighed in on the trial, demanding Rahman's release.

"No individual should ever be persecuted — let alone executed — for his or her religious beliefs. The freedom to practice one's own faith without fear of retribution is one of humanity's most sacred rights. If Rahman has been imprisoned solely because he converted to Christianity, he must be immediately and unconditionally released," said Amnesty International Executive Director William F. Schulz.

Separately, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist urged Rice to "use every diplomatic means necessary" to ensure Rahman's immediate release.

"I am greatly concerned by Mr. Rahman's prosecution and the challenge his case presents to the future of Afghanistan. It is fair to say that the United States has not spent the last four plus years liberating, defending, rebuilding and assisting Afghanistan's democratic development only to see the Afghani people remain subject to laws reminiscent of the Taliban's reign," Frist said.

Rahman is believed to have lived in Germany for nine years after converting to Christianity while working for an international Christian group helping Afghan refugees in Pakistan. He returned to Kabul in 2002.

It was not immediately clear when Rahman's trial will resume. He is not believed to have a lawyer.

Hello Bronzesnake,

Brother John, it's great to be reading messages from you on the forum. I completely agree with what you say above. I really don't think there will ever be peace except the false peace of the anti-Christ. We both know what follows that short and false peace. I believe more strongly than ever that the Rapture will happen first, and Christians won't be worrying about this anymore. Further, we will have our glorified bodies by then.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Ephesians 3:11-13 NASB  This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.

Brother,

Don't take this wrong, but I hope not.  The only real (false) peace will be durning the reign of the anti-christ.

Bush expresses concern over Afghan Christian; report says others arrested
Mar 23, 2006
By Erin Roach
Baptist Press

KABUL, Afghanistan (BP)--On the day President Bush expressed concern that the arrest of an Afghan Christian convert reveals a disturbing lack of religious freedom, a Christian news service reported the arrest of at least two other Afghan Christians elsewhere in the country.

“It is deeply troubling that a country we helped liberate would hold a person to account because they chose a particular religion over another,” Bush said March 22 in Wheeling, W.Va. “... We’ll deal with this issue diplomatically and remind people that there is something as universal as being able to choose religion.”

The uproar began when Abdul Rahman -- whose age has been reported as both 41 and 42 -- was arrested in Afghanistan March 16 for rejecting Islam and embracing Christianity, an offense that could warrant the death penalty in a nation governed by Sharia law.

Compass Direct News, which monitors the persecution of Christians worldwide, reported the arrest of two additional Afghan Christians and the deepening harassment of others sparked by the international controversy surrounding Rahman’s detainment.

“This past weekend, one young Afghan convert to Christianity was beaten severely outside his home by a group of six men, who finally knocked him unconscious with a hard blow to his temple,” Compass Direct reported March 22. “He woke up in the hospital two hours later but was discharged before morning.”

Homes and places of business of several other Afghan Christians have been raided by police in recent weeks, the news service said, and telephone threats have been common.

Islamic militants have captured and murdered at least five Afghan Christians in the past two years for abandoning Islam, Compass Direct said, but Rahman’s case is the first such known prosecution in Afghanistan in recent decades.

The Embassy of Afghanistan in Washington released a statement March 22 acknowledging the “significant number of inquiries” about the Rahman case and hinting that his execution may be avoided because of a mental illness.

“Afghanistan’s judicial system is currently evaluating questions raised about the mental fitness of Mr. Rahman, the results of which may end the proceedings,” the statement said. “Hence we kindly request that the judicial process be given time to resolve Mr. Rahman’s case.”

Nearly all of the NATO countries, including officials from Germany, Italy and Canada, have expressed “extremely serious concerns” about the Rahman case, The Washington Post reported, because those nations' troops have played a role in securing freedom from the Taliban for the Muslim nation.

Diplomats in several of those countries said March 22 they had received assurance that Rahman would not be executed, according to The Post.

Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, said the Rahman situation highlights the importance of international human rights standards.

“This case points up the need for everyone to abide by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees freedom of conscience and belief,” Land said in a statement to Baptist Press. “The American people are not sending their young men and women to Afghanistan for this definition of freedom. Compulsion in the name of any religion is shameful and should be rejected by every sincere professor of any religion. Mr. Rahman should be released immediately.”

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, charged with monitoring the status of freedom of religion abroad and giving policy recommendations to the president, reminded Bush in a letter March 22 that on several occasions they had “raised concern that the Afghan constitution’s failure to include adequate guarantees of freedom of religion ... could lead to unjust criminal accusations of apostasy and blasphemy.”

“This case confirms that fundamental democratic rights and freedoms -- and particularly those rights related to freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief -- are still under threat in Afghanistan,” the commission, of which Land is a member, told Bush.

Rahman’s arrest and possible execution “clearly puts to the test” the commitment of the government headed by Afghan President Hamid Karzai to “abide by its international human rights obligations, as provided in Afghanistan’s constitution," the commission said.

USCIRF called for the Bush administration to press Afghanistan on the issue and ensure that Rahman is freed immediately with charges dismissed.

“The arrest of Mr. Rahman indicates that religious extremists still have significant influence in Kabul, threatening not just the religious freedom of this one man, but the fundamental rights of each and every Afghan citizen,” the commission concluded. “We believe that it is the obligation of our government to act vigorously on his behalf.”

Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice, said he was deeply disturbed that such a case of religious persecution was happening in a country the United States continues to defend.

“Executing or imprisoning a person solely because of his religious beliefs violates the Afghan constitution as well as international law and would set a dangerous precedent for future religious prosecution worldwide,” Sekulow, who wrote a letter on behalf of the ACLJ to Afghan officials, said. “The thought of a convert to Christianity being put to death for his religious beliefs is intolerable. We call on the Afghan government to drop the criminal charges against Abdul Rahman and to set him free without delay.”

The letter was sent to Afghanistan’s president and U.S. ambassador as well as to Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and members of Congress.

Rahman, 41, converted to Christianity 16 years ago while serving alongside Christian aid groups in Pakistan. His wife divorced him when he became a Christian, and custody of his two young daughters went to his parents. After years of applying for asylum in European countries, Rahman was deported to Afghanistan, where in recent months he sought to regain custody of his now teenage daughters, Compass Direct said.

But his relatives turned him in to the government as a Christian convert in order to stop him from contacting the family, Compass Direct reported. He then was arrested.

International Christian Concern, an interdenominational human rights organization based in Washington, has urged “all concerned parties to contact the Embassy of Afghanistan to express their opposition to this violation of freedom of conscience and urge the immediate acquittal of Abdul Rahman.”

Bush expresses concern over Afghan Christian; report says others arrested (http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=22895)

Afghan Christian 'likely to be released soon'
Mar 24 2:24 PM US/Eastern

 An Afghan Christian facing possible execution for converting from Islam was likely to be released from jail "soon," a senior government official said following huge Western pressure over the case.

"He is likely to be released soon," the official said, adding there would be a top-level meeting on the matter Saturday.

Abdul Rahman was arrested two weeks ago under Islamic Sharia law and faced a possible death sentence in a case that has attracted widespread condemnation, especially from the United States.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice telephoned Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Thursday to step up pressure to free 41-year-old Rahman, who converted in Germany 16 years ago and was turned in by his parents on his return to Afghanistan.

Rice said she phoned Karzai to hammer home "in the strongest possible terms" Washington's concern over the proceedings against Rahman.

"There is no more fundamental issue for the United States than freedom of religion and religious conscience," she said.

Rice also raised the issue in a meeting Wednesday with visiting Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah.

President George W. Bush said he was "deeply troubled" by the case.

In Ottawa, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he telephoned Karzai on Wednesday to express concern about a possible execution and "he conveyed to me that we don't have to worry about any such eventual outcome."

Karzai "assured me that what's alarmed most of us will be worked out quickly ... in a way that fully respects religious rights, religious freedoms and human rights," Harper added.

Afghanistan's Supreme Court said Thursday it was trying to find a "good solution" to the case, the first of its kind here, including persuading Rahman to revert to Islam.

Sharia law, on which the Afghan constitution is partly based, rules that conversion away from Islam must be punished by death if the accused person fails to revert.

Afghan Christian 'likely to be released soon' (http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/03/24/060324192407.6b67boyy.html)