Afghanistan: Convert from Islam to Christianity faces capital trial for apostasy

Said Musa faces death for apostasy from a government the U.S. installed and in accordance with a Constitution that the U.S. endorsed. An update on this story. "Afghan Christian faces trial for alleged conversion from Islam," by Matiullah Mati for CNN, November 21 (thanks to Mackie):

An Afghan Christian, detained for months for allegedly converting to Christianity from Islam, could face trial as early as next week - and could face a potential death penalty, officials said Sunday. [...]
The Afghan Constitution does not mention converting from one religion to another, so the judge will take Islamic law into account, officials said.

"According to Afghanistan's constitution, if there is no clear verdict as to whether an act is criminal or not in the penal code of the Afghan Constitution, then it would be referred to sharia law where the judge has an open hand in reaching a verdict," Shenwari said.

Under sharia law, converting from Islam to Christianity is punishable by death....

Nice of CNN to admit it, after obfuscating it before.

The U.S. State Department said last week in its annual International Religious Freedom Report that "respect for religious freedom" decreased in Afghanistan in the last year, "particularly toward Christian groups and individuals."

And yet no pressure whatsoever comes from that State Department to the Afghan government we're propping up, to improve that situation.

Christians, Hindus and Sikhs - as well as Muslims whose practices don't satisfy the government or society - suffer "intolerance in the form of harassment, occasional violence, discrimination and inflammatory public statements," the report said. It estimated the Afghan Christian community ranges from 500 to 8,000 people.

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9 Comments

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sumdum | November 21, 2010 9:20 AM | Reply

To be fair, it's not like it was any different before the 'democracy' was installed. The only difference is now the government is recognized..

Wellington | November 21, 2010 9:55 AM | Reply

There are so many ugly aspects about Islam but one of the ugliest is the requirement of death for leaving Islam for another religion. If so-called moderate Muslims want to prove to us kuffaars that they are indeed prepared to come into the modern world, they must in very large numbers, in crystal clear, unambiguous speech, denounce this provision of Sharia. But this ain't gonna' happen. Expect, in fact, more cries of Islamophobia for even mentioning this detestable Islamic doctrine.

dumbledoresarmy | November 21, 2010 12:41 PM | Reply

I went and read the comments on the CNN site.

It was an interesting experience.

A percentage of relatively-well-informed Islamosavvy folks and a great many deluded non-Muslim fools (saying the same sorts of things over and over), as well as a lot of Muslim taqiyya artists spinning like mad.

AlaskanInfidel replied to comment from dumbledoresarmy | November 21, 2010 11:43 PM | Reply

Pretty much the usual then?
Maybe a few more islamosavvy posters than before though? Seems to be trending that way in general...slowly. Too damned slowly for my taste.

No islam...Know Peace.
Know islam...Throw Up!

Daniel | November 22, 2010 2:46 AM | Reply

The death penalty for apostasy is thoroughly disgusting, but it's important to note that in the context of Islam, apostasy being a capital offence isn't crazy talk, it makes perfect sense for a religion that wants to take over the world, it's the ultimate tool to ensure that once your rule has been established, it can never be usurped.

Kepha | November 22, 2010 2:54 AM | Reply

And this is the kind of thing in which Americans [and others] are asked to invest their sons' lives!

sumdum | November 22, 2010 3:28 AM | Reply

Yeah, you gotta wonder how people feel knowing their sons or daughters died to install an islamic theocracy in some country far away.

ethoman | November 22, 2010 12:48 PM | Reply

It appears that line #1 of the Afghan Constitution .... from doc http://www.afghanweb.com/politics/current_constitution.html

"We the people of Afghanistan:

1. With firm faith in God Almighty and relying on His lawful mercy, and Believing in the Sacred religion of Islam,"

supersedes line #5

5. Observing the United Nations Charter and respecting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," .... see article #18

Article 18.
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/

Islam is a crime against Humanity by its very own definition. Due to the fact that our American sons and daughters are fighting and dying to create, and support this government, and Constitution in Afghanistan I'd say American blood is cheaper than it has ever been in the history of our nation.

Sashland | November 22, 2010 3:12 PM | Reply

State sanctioned murder, under a constitution we permitted.

A religion that has been hijacked by a few extremist nations; in this case the US is an accessory to murder.

But, I have it on the highest authority that this is not permitted - care to comment again mariam, you were so absolutely conclusively, positively, sure-fire that this was not permitted. I am so disappointed in your faithful explanation.

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