Why aren’t we hearing a huge number of similar calls from the Vast Majority of Moderate Muslim Clerics around the world? From the BBC, with thanks to all who sent this in:
Pope Benedict XVI has asked the Afghan president to show clemency towards a man facing possible execution for converting to Christianity.
Abdul Rahman has been charged with apostasy, a religious offence.
The Vatican said the pontiff had appealed to President Hamid Karzai to respect human rights guarantees enshrined in the Afghan constitution….
The appeal was sent in a letter in Pope Benedict XVI’s name by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano.
The note, excerpts of which were released by the Vatican, said the pope’s appeal was inspired by “profound human compassion” and by a “firm belief in the dignity of human life and by respect for every person’s freedom of conscience and religion”.
Releasing Mr Rahman would “contribute in a most significant way to our common mission to foster mutual understanding and respect among the world’s different religions and cultures”, it added.