http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/03/22/afghan.christian/index.html
Afghan Christian convert could be executed
Western nations outraged Muslims who convert can be put to death
Wednesday, March 22, 2006; Posted: 8:04 a.m. EST (13:04 GMT)
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In the days of the Taliban, those promoting
Christianity in Afghanistan could be arrested and those converting
from Islam could be tortured and publicly executed.
That was supposed to change after U.S.-led forces ousted the
oppressive, fundamentalist regime, but the case of 41-year-old Abdul
Rahman has many Western nations wondering if Afghanistan is
regressing.
Rahman, a father of two, was arrested and is on trial for rejecting
Islam. The Afghan constitution, which is based on Sharia, or Islamic
law, says that apostates can receive the death penalty.
"They want to sentence me to death, and I accept it," Rahman told
reporters last week, "but I am not a deserter and not an infidel."
(Watch how this case is testing Afghanistan -- 1:17)
He had been arrested after telling local police, whom he approached on
an unrelated matter, that he had converted to Christianity. Reports
say he was carrying a Bible at the time.
He said he converted to Christianity 16 years ago after working with a
Christian aid group that assisted refugees in neighboring Pakistan.
Mentally unfit?
On Wednesday a state prosecutor said Rahman may be mentally unfit to
stand trial, The Associated Press reports.
"We think he could be mad. He is not a normal person. He doesn't talk
like a normal person," The AP quoted prosecutor Sarinwal Zamari as
saying.
Moayuddin Baluch, a religious adviser to President Hamid Karzai, said
Rahman would undergo a psychological examination, according to the AP.
"Doctors must examine him," the AP quoted Baluch as saying. "If he is
mentally unfit, definitely Islam has no claim to punish him. He must
be forgiven. The case must be dropped."
When the examination or the trial would take place was not clear. The
AP said authorities barred it from seeing Rahman and reported that he
was believed to not have a lawyer.
A Western diplomat in Kabul and a human rights advocate said the
government was desperately searching for a way to drop the case
because of the reaction it has caused, the AP reports. The news agency
said both spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity
of the matter.
Afghanistan's population is 80 percent Sunni Muslim and 19 percent
Shiite Muslim, according to the CIA. The rest of the population is
classified as "other."
- Original Message -
From: "Ari Condro" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
http://www.besorahonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=233&I
temid=2
Pindah Agama Hadapi Hukuman Mati
Oleh Yosi Rorimpandei
Rabu, 22 Maret 2006
Abdul Rahman, 41, warga Afghanistan menghadapi tuntutan hukuman mati
karena keputusannya untuk memeluk agama Kristen. Hal tersebut dikarenakan
Afghanistan memberlakukan hukum Islam di negara tersebut.
Menurut hukum Islam yang berlaku di Afghanistan, seorang Muslim yang
berpindah agama diancam dengan hukuman mati.
Rahman telah memeluk agama Kristen sejak 16 tahun silam. Selama ini,
ia bekerja sebagai tenaga medis di sebuah kelompok Kristen internasional
yang membantu para korban perang di Afghanistan. Ia ditangkap polisi karena
kedapatan membawa alkitab.
Hakim Ansarullah Mawlavezada mengatakan bahwa Rahman dituntut atas
tuduhan menolak agama Islam dan menentang hukum Islam.
Namun, Sarinwal Zamari, jaksa penuntut yang menuntut Rahman mengatakan
bahwa kemungkinan Rahman mengalami gangguan jiwa.
Moayuddin Baluch, penasihat agama Presiden Hamid Karzai, mengatakan
bahwa mereka akan melakukan uji psikologis terhadap Rahman. Menurutnya, jika
Rahman mengalami gangguan mental, maka tuntutan hukuman mati tidak akan
dilaksanakan.
Pemerintah Amerika Serikat mengaku akan mengawasi kasus ini dengan
seksama. Namun, pemerintah AS menyatakan bahwa kasus ini bukanlah wewenang
mereka. Karena itu, mereka menyerahkan sepenuhnya penanganan kasus tersebut
kepada pemerintah Afghanistan.
Pernyataan Gedung Putih itu menimbulkan berbagai reaksi keras di
Amerika. Bahkan gerakan untuk mengirimkan e-mail kepada Bush agar melakukan
tekanan terhadap Afghanistan terkait kasus itu gencar dilakukan.
Sementara itu, pemerintah Jerman dan Italia dengan tegas menyatakan
protes mereka terhadap tuntutan hukuman mati bagi Rahman. Mantan Presiden
Italia, Francesco Cossiga, mengatakan bahwa jika hukuman mati itu
dijatuhkan, pemerintah Italia harus mengerahkan 1.775 pasukannya di
Afghanistan.
Kardinal Jerman, Karl Lehmann mengatakan bahwa tindakan pemerintah
Afghanistan itu merupakan sinyal tidak adanya jaminan kebebasan beribadah di
Afghanistan.
Menteri Luar Negeri Italia menyatakan hal serupa di Roma. Menurutnya,
ia akan mengerahkan pasukan dalam jumlah terbesar untuk mencegah tindakan
yang menentang hak asasi manusia.
Dari
