In Reply to: Abdur Rahman in Afghanistan posted by Oldtimer on March 25, 2006 at 12:14:28:
The country judiciary would not bend to mounting pressure over the fate of apostate, who faced the death penalty for converting to Christianity, judge Ansarullah Mawlavizada told Pajhwok Afghan News.
He said: "According to article 3 of the constitution no law confronting the sacred religion of Islam can be allowed in the country."
Owing to Sharia, anybody who converted from Islam to any other religion and could not revert in three days would be punished with death, he added.
An Afghan judge said this week a man named Abdur Rahman had been jailed for converting from Islam to Christianity and could face the death penalty.
Death is one of the punishments stipulated by Sharia, or Islamic law, for apostasy.
The case has raised alarm overseas and the United States and three other Nato allies with troops in Afghanistan on Tuesday urged respect for religious freedom.
The US, which counts Karzai as a key ally in the region, raised the case with Afghanistan.
The case is sensitive for President Hamid Karzai who depends on foreign troops to battle Taliban and al Qaeda militants, and aid to support the economy, but also has to take into consideration views of conservative proponents of Islamic law.
"Afghanistan is an Islamic country and its judiciary will act independently and neutrally," Supreme Court judge Ansarullah Mawlavizada said. "No other policy will be accepted apart from Islamic orders and what our constitution says," Mawlavizada said, adding he was saddened by the international outcry.