The man in this picture is a citizen of Afghanistan.
This man claims he willingly converted from Islam to Christianity.
This man’s name is Abdul Rahman. He now faces the death penalty for apostasy.
So much for the new, free, modern Afghanistan.
I’m the last person to ask (or commiserate with) about the power and influence of religion, but I will defend to my dying breath the right of all citizens to practice whatever religion they wish, so long as it does not interfere with others. The British-American-Canadian-European democratic culture that we hope is a model for the world would never permit anything else.
And yet…
We send troops to Afghanistan, in order to promote and protect freedoms that we cherish…only to have its citizens subject to such fundamentalist, medieval rubbish. The law, under which Mr. Rahman faces punishment, is one created by the deposed Taliban – WHY does it still exist?
Recently, there’s been talk of releasing Mr. Rahman on the grounds that he’s mad and unfit to stand trial. Lovely…a loophole. God forbid he should be released simply because the law under which he is accused is a disgusting affront to human rights!
The Americans and the Europeans have been properly outraged over this issue…yet the response of our own government has been extremely tepid. Stephen Harper made such hay from his recent trip to the region, promoting the hell out of our soldiers’ efforts to help drag Afghanistan into the modern world, with splashes of jingoism for added effect.
So far, the following statement is his only response to the situation:
“I called President Karzai today to express my deep concerns regarding the Raham case and the issue of freedom of religion in Afghanistan.”
“President Karzai listened to my concerns and we had a productive and informative exchange of views.”
“Upon the conclusion of the call, he assured me that respect for human and religious rights will be fully upheld in this case.”
The Europeans are calling in Afghanistan’s ambassadors and making formal complaints. U.S. President George W. Bush has berated the government of Afghanistan on television. In fact, Bush’s comments are far more reassuring than Mr. Harper’s flaccid response…
“We have got influence in Afghanistan, and we are going to use it. It is deeply troubling that a country we helped liberate would hold a person to account because he chose a different religion over another.”
So here I am, in a world where religious converts face death as if it were still the year 1600, and I defend President Bush (God help me!) in the face of half-hearted action by my own Prime Minister.
Abdul Rahman has done nothing wrong and should be released. Any other option is unacceptable – it would be a victory for bigots, fundamentalists, and all those opposed to fundamental democratic and religious freedoms.
Mr. Harper, it’s time to DEFINITIVELY draw that line in the sand. If you don’t, you’re as pathetic, as terrible, and as frightening as the men who want to spill Mr. Rahman’s blood.
