TMCnet News
EDITORIAL: Christian freed: Afghanistan ignores threats of clerics(Tulsa World (OK) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Mar. 29--The Afghan man who converted to Christianity and threw the new Afghanistan government into turmoil was released from prison Monday. The reaction by Muslim clerics and followers was immediate but so far has not been as dramatic as feared. Abdul Rahman, 41, reportedly went into hiding Tuesday in Kabul after Muslim clerics threatened his life. Italy said it may grant him asylum. Strict Islamic law, Sharia, says that converting from Islam to another faith is punishable by death. Clerics in Afghanistan had insisted that the law be carried out in the case of Rahman who had converted to Christianity 16 years ago. Western nations, including the U.S., from whom Afghanistan relies on billions of dollars for rebuilding the country, pressured Afghan leaders to release Rahman. Clerics had warned that if Rahman was released he would be torn apart by angry crowds. The clerics said that they would sanction and even encourage the revenge. About 1,000 people took to the streets in Mazar-e-Sharif after Rahman was released. The crowd protested the decision and chanted anti-U.S. slogans. Although it is still early, the turnout was good news for the U.S. and the new Afghan government. If crowds remain small, the Kabul government ought to be encouraged. It could be a major step toward a stable democracy. Again, it is too early to declare this a victory for the fledgling government. Of course, the release of Rahman is likely more of an appeasement of Afghanistan's benefactors than striking a blow for freedom of religion. It is, however, good to see Afghan political leaders stand up to the clerics. The case of Rahman does, however, illustrate again how difficult it will be to bring Western-style democracy to Third World countries. |