Do you recognize him?
- Are they interested in a just solution or a political solution or a diplomatic solution?
- The judge presiding over the case of an Afghan man who could face the death penalty for converting to Christianity said on Sunday the case was flawed and would be sent back to prosecutors.
- The row over the man, Abdur Rahman, 40, jailed this month for abandoning Islam, threatens to create a rift between Afghanistan and the United States and other Western backers who have been calling for the man’s release.
- “The case, because of some technical as well as legal flaws and shortcomings, has been referred back to the prosecutor’s office,” the judge, Ansarullah Mawlavizada, told Reuters.
- A prosecutor said Rahman’s mental state would be examined on Monday following suggestions that he may be mentally unstable.
- Rahman, detained this month for converting to Christianity, told an Italian newspaper from his Kabul jail cell that he was ready to die for his new faith.
- The row over the man, Abdur Rahman, 40, jailed this month for abandoning Islam, threatens to create a rift between Afghanistan and the United States and other Western backers who have been calling for the man’s release.
New faith? I thought he’s been a Christian for at least 15 years.
Whatever the case, he’s ready to die for it. (Unlike American Christian military chaplains who seem — mostly — to prefer to kow-tow or sue over praying in Jesus’ name?)
- Then there’s this in the story:
- The government is trying to satisfy Western demands for the man’s release, while not angering powerful conservatives at home who have demanded a trial and death sentence under Islamic law.
- Officials in President Hamid Karzai’s government declined to comment. “I’m hopeful something will be worked out,” said one.
- Officials and analysts say they do not expect Rahman to be executed. The outcome could hinge on his mental state.
- A spokesman for the Supreme Court said the mental examination had been ordered after Rahman’s relatives said he suffered from mental problems — something he denies.
- Officials in President Hamid Karzai’s government declined to comment. “I’m hopeful something will be worked out,” said one.
- What a pickle the Afghan government finds itself in!
- Defying the conservative clamor, one newspaper — Outlook — made the first public call in Afghanistan for Rahman’s release, saying the country could not ignore international opinion when it needed support to fight terrorism and rebuild.
What a bother to have to consider the opinions and support of other countries when pursuing domestic law enforcement!
(I don’t think the Afghans have a corner on such dilemas.)
I’m quite sure if it were you in this man’s shoes that you wouldn’t really want people quibbling over whether your release from a death sentence was “just†or “political’ or “diplomaticâ€â€¦you would be happy to be free… should we also not be ecstatic for a fellow believer? I see little jubilance in your post.
What I do see is a blanket condemnation for Military chaplains which you really don’t know at all. But perhaps that’s fair…perhaps they, not knowing you…would make the same condemnation toward you. Which of course would not necessarily make it true…on either count? Just my opinion.
Thanks for your feedback, St…I mean, srs.
You are, of course, right about the lack of jubilance in my post. That was an unfortunate oversight on my part, because I certainly feel some joy and relief that he may be spared a judicial death sentence. However, when I read that he will likely be released, I thought something like this, “That’s just postponing his death by a week or less. Then somebody will murder him or he will be lynched or some such thing.” In my estimation, he’s not out of the woods and safe yet, even if the authorities release him.
Regarding the quibbling issue…. I wasn’t trying to put myself in the man’s shoes. Nor will I try to now. I see human hypocrisy on display here, with alleged religious beliefs (Muslim in this case) being sold out for political and diplomatic reasons. I say “human” hypocrisy to underscore that I do not believe myself immune to it. How often do I sacrifice my own convictions on the altar of convenience, cowardice, community, or all three?
Regarding the parenthetical comment regarding chaplains, I acknowledge I should have inserted a single word (those) for better clarity and, thus, a smaller blanket. This would have better said what I meant:
(Unlike those American Christian military chaplains who seem — mostly — to prefer to kow-tow or sue over praying in Jesus’ name?)
In my view, such chaplains also exhibit a degree of that human hypocrisy to which I refered earlier.