The voices he heard in his head weren't the 'normal' voices that muslims hear which tell them to go out and kill infidels and murder apostates to please allah. Therefore, his voices must have been the kind of voices which only a crazy person hears.

Posted by: Mahdi Al-Dajjal at March 26, 2006 5:36 PM

He probably hears the "still small voice of God" in his heart, that should freak them out! The leading of the Holy Spirit instead of the murder-death-kill of islam.

Posted by: Carolyn2 at March 26, 2006 5:47 PM

All of Islam is then based on the insanity of one man, as Mohammed too heard "voices."

Posted by: Lisa at March 26, 2006 6:14 PM

A member, or members of Congress, should use this case to introduce legislation, crafted at once, to require that all American aid, of any kind, whatever it is labelled, does not go to states, or to quasi-states, that do not firmly endorse the principle of freedom of conscience recognized both in the American Constitution and in the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Man. This is simple to comprehend. This is simple to vote Yes or No on, with obvious consequences, one hopes, for those who vote No.

Who will be ones to introduce this much-needed legislation? There is no point in Americans fighting, dying, paying and paying and paying, for those who would, to the extent they could, deny the most elementary of freedoms. If the Administration lets it be known that this will "complicate its task" that is because the task it has taken on is the wrong one, the definition of "success" in completing that task a hollow one, and the failure to see what needs to be done -- a monumental one.

Posted by: Hugh at March 26, 2006 6:16 PM

Hugh, great idea re aid. What about trade? I'm pretty annoyed that NZ politicians made lots of appeasement noises in the wake of the cartoons simply for the sake of protecting NZ trade with countries that don't respect Human Rights and state/religion separation.

Posted by: Lili at March 26, 2006 6:23 PM

I'm surprised the "Mumbai Mirror" is apparently an actual paper. With such nice alliteration, I figured it would be in the same category as the Bandar Beacon.

As for "hearing voices," I'm guessing Rahman's family was pressed to come up with something more specific than "mental problems," and they went straight for something big.

Posted by: Shinoliite at March 26, 2006 6:26 PM

I have to confess that I am hearing voices... the secret voices of the religious authorities who are deciding this case... in my head.

And they sound remarkably like a flock of hawk-shadowed chickens gargling in apoplectic panic.

Or is it just evident to my inner ear alone?

(And maybe that's the shadow of a predator drone.)

Posted by: profitsbeard at March 26, 2006 7:00 PM

Lisa -

You'll appreciate this. My husband and I just finished watching a program on the History Channel entitled "Secrets of the Koran", and one of the things they mentioned was how Muhammad received his messages. Not only did he hear "voices", but "he heard them during what appeared to be epileptic seizures" - unquote.
Holy Molly!!

Posted by: champ at March 26, 2006 7:32 PM

I'll take Abdul Rahman's mental stability over Mohammad's anytime. He's been made whole by the grace of God. The folks who follow the words of Mo like flocks of sheep are the screwballs.

Posted by: yohannbiimu at March 26, 2006 7:43 PM

This is just another way to silence and enforce conformity. The USSR and the Nazis used this technique, and it is used here too.
This is the "humane" way of eliminating dissent or challenges to authority. Don't be fooled. When a government is in the business of determining "sanity", we have a problem. Can you say "arbitrary" and "subjective"?

Posted by: kentim at March 26, 2006 7:47 PM

Maybe his family could say it was old mo's voice saying "get the hell out of islam while you can"!

Spin it!!!

Posted by: freewoman at March 26, 2006 8:00 PM

kentim wrote:

"This is just another way to silence and enforce conformity."

It is also to marginalize someone who is actually couragous and steadfast in his convictions. If folks were to know what kind of man Abdul Rahman actually is, they'd see him as one that they could look up to. If they hear that he's simply crazy (because, after all, who'd turn down an offer to return to the "perfect religion" of islam unless he were totally nuts?), then they can put him away, "institutionalize" him, and nobody will think anything of it. And, if he's killed after his "release," then they'll see it as being no different than having killed a mad dog.

A man of such courage and conviction does not deserve to die the death of a dog, and I'm watching our government in regard to this man's fate. "Dropping" this man's suit means nothing. Too many other people's lives are still hanging in the balance.

Posted by: yohannbiimu at March 26, 2006 8:17 PM

muslim cleric's excuse for those who convert to Christianity is isanity..but the joke is on them.. for those to still believe in islam one must be insane! l will pray for Abdul Rahman safety and that his courage remains steadfast. a few politicians might want to look up to this courageous man!

Posted by: Lulu at March 26, 2006 8:36 PM

I think the cartoon issue and now this is the best thing that has happened,all this talk about Islam being a religion of peace is being exposed as complete crap i know so many people who believed all the religion of peace talk and now they are starting to question.

I,m afraid the left wing liberals will only wake up when muslims get strong political power in western countries and start trying to impose Islam and that includes telling woman what to wear and targeting Homosexuals who muslims seem to have a great dislike for.

Posted by: stevenz at March 26, 2006 8:41 PM

If he is found to be unfit to stand trial will Rahman be subjected to "Islamic Psychiatry"? Or will he be treated as someone possessed by demonic spirits?

Does anyone know if Muslims believe in demonic possession?

Rahman's best bet is to run if he can, but where? Afghanistan is bordered by Iran (bad pick), Pakistan (worse pick), Qatar (maybe he'll live long enough for Al Jazeera to interview him), China (awful pick) and the former Soviet Republics (when Tajikistan starts looking good then you know that you are in trouble).

If Rahman is to live, he has to ask for asylum at an American embassy. What will Bush do then? If Rahman is offered asylum then the ensuing riots will make the cartoon riots look like a small time bar room brawl.

Maybe that's the jihadist's game - turn the bad PR of a faith based execution into a violent anti-American extravaganza.

Posted by: Non Believer at March 26, 2006 9:29 PM

What the! Someone converting *out* of Islam!!! It's obvious. He must be mentally unstable, of course.

Makes perfect sense. /sarc

Posted by: kufr at March 26, 2006 10:20 PM

Now Sharia-ists in Afghanistan are planning large demonstrations. Just cant stand to see a Christian convert/apostate escape the sword...Must be frustrating to see Allah slapped around like that. I suppose, that if Allah wants the job done right, he will just have to do it himself...

Posted by: duh_swami at March 26, 2006 10:23 PM

So now the Muslims taking a leaf from the Soviets are trying the mental health route to suppression.

a. Islam is the most perfect thing there is.
b. No sane man would reject such perfection.
It therefore follows that Rahman is insane.

We should be glad that as a result of the West's intervention, the Afghans can at the minimum handle syllogisms. The Talebans were quite deficient in this and would have settled for severing Rahmman's head.

Posted by: ivan at March 26, 2006 11:01 PM

Hugh,
No western politician will propose such a law. Maybe a non-binding resolution encouraging decent behavior from the world's bribe takers and welfare recipients. I just feel this. Maybe someone smarter can explain why such a law will never be passed.

Hey, anyone remember the old Randy Newman song, "Let's Drop the Big One Now." A guy wakes up hung-over, a little depressed, and wants to end it all for everyone. Anyway, instead of sending e-mails to my elected officials encouraging moral behavior, I am thinking of starting a web site dedicated to finding the quickest way to ending the world's advanced civilization. What is it? How about: Don't worry about Iran - give everybody a-bombs. Don't worry about overpopulation, encourage more and more population growth, open borders, cash prizes for the best breeders. Any other good suggestions? How about no more energy worries - give everyone a home sized nuke, if it doesn't work at least they can glow in the dark.

Posted by: JaimeZepeda at March 26, 2006 11:01 PM

So you are crazy if your hear voices.

By there own reasoning that must make Mohammed (pigs piss upon him) must be mad also? Now can they all stop worshiping the moon god?

Posted by: 3rdtimelucky at March 27, 2006 12:01 AM

champ - I once read a book called 'Secrets of the Koran - revealed".

It was a good book and went into the same, including the pschyco of Mo.

What TV station was this program? Who was it produced by? Do you know?

Posted by: 3rdtimelucky at March 27, 2006 12:03 AM

Non Believer: "Does anyone know if Muslims believe in demonic possession?"
-----------

They do, indeed. Mohammed's nanny, who became his foster mother, for a brief time, was certain the boy was possessed. He ended up being reared by a couple of uncles. His own mother didn't want to deal with him.

Posted by: Abscedere at March 27, 2006 10:16 AM

Here we go again...

http://www.iranpressnews.com/english/source/011693.html

Iran Press News: The Islamic Republic of Iran has yet again slated Fatemeh Haghighat-Pajooh for execution. Haghighat-Pajooh murdered her "temporary husband" for attempted rape of her 15-year-old daughter, from her first marriage and in 1997 was charged with murder, by the misogynist Mullah judiciary and sentenced to death.

Posted by: Denver at March 27, 2006 10:55 AM

The Atlanta Journal Constitution sometimes called the Al Jazeera Constitution has a guest editorial written by Daud Azizi an Afghan. The editorial
can be found here.
http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/stories/0327edafghan.html

Basically Azizi says he is shocked by the actions of Afghanistan, nothing in the Qu'ran justifies this action. He claims he sees it as religious persecution and hopes other American Muslims will also express shock and anger at this persecution. I believe I read something here by Robert or Hugh explaining that the Qu'ran actually does permit this type of persecution. I'd like to rebut this editorial, but I need a link to the post here.

Posted by: Joe Bag O Donuts at March 27, 2006 1:17 PM