Afghan man faces the death penalty after being charged with converting from Islam to Christianity

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

An Afghan man faces the death penalty after he was charged with converting from Islam to Christianity.

Abdul Rahman, 41, was arrested last month after his family accused him of converting to Christianity.

[...]

'He would have been forgiven if he changed back. But he said he was a Christian and would always remain one,' said the prosecutor, Abdul Wasi. 'We are Muslims, and becoming a Christian is against our laws. He must get the death penalty.'

http://news.monstersandcritics.com/southas...ristian_convert

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Ahh, the smell of freedom...

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Let me see:

• He's been Christian for 16 years (meaning since 1990, when Najibullah was still in power)
  
• Taliban is now gone from power
  

This would mean that Wasi is trying to enforce the Taliban laws retroactively to a period six years before the Taliban were in power--did the Taliban (as an organisation of that name) even exist at that time?

So, Wasi has just proven himself a chopf#ck.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

This would mean that Wasi is trying to enforce the Taliban laws retroactively to a period six years before the Taliban were in power--did the Taliban (as an organisation of that name) even exist at that time?

Srini,

There are no Taliban laws. The Taliban enforced Sharia laws. The current government of Afghanistan is claiming to do the same.. enforce Sharia law.

But this news item reminded me of something our dear leader said when he was sworn in to his second term. So I went and looked it up and here it is:

"... it is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world."

If this isn't tyranny, I don't know what is.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

It is even greater tyranny when the law is being enforced retroactively to the time of a government which certainly DIDN't follow it (Najibullah, after all, was Marxist).

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

It is even greater tyranny when the law is being enforced retroactively to the time of a government which certainly DIDN't follow it (Najibullah, after all, was Marxist).

I guess then the question is, what's the crime? The actual act of conversion (which happened in a Marxist regime) or the continual refusal to convert back? It sounds to me like both are crimes and the latter can certainly be prosecuted under Sharia law as that crime continues to occur, even today.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

It is even greater tyranny when the law is being enforced retroactively to the time of a government which certainly DIDN't follow it (Najibullah, after all, was Marxist).

I guess then the question is, what's the crime? The actual act of conversion (which happened in a Marxist regime) or the continual refusal to convert back? It sounds to me like both are crimes and the latter can certainly be prosecuted under Sharia law as that crime continues to occur, even today.

Actually, to consider either a crime you'd need to go retroactive--as the "refusal to convert back" would now "only" qualify as "non-Muslim refusing to convert to Islam".

[Nizzy 1]

Which part of Afghanistan is this?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Which part of Afghanistan is this?

All I know is he's being prosecuted in a court in Kabul.

[Mirorgate 0]

Which part of Afghanistan is this?

Does that really matter? What I don't understand is why conversion to any other religion other than Islam is a crime? Even other legalistic religions, Judaism being one they will only ostracize you.. not kill you. This is rediculous beyond measure.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Which part of Afghanistan is this?

The liberated part.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

What I don't understand is why conversion to any other religion other than Islam is a crime?

Actually, I believe per Islamic law converting from Islam to another religion is a crime. But converting from Christianity to Mormonism or from Judaism to Buddhism is not. Leaving Islam is what is not allowed and the punishment is death.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

What I don't understand is why conversion to any other religion other than Islam is a crime?

Actually, I believe per Islamic law converting from Islam to another religion is a crime. But converting from Christianity to Mormonism or from Judaism to Buddhism is not. Leaving Islam is what is not allowed and the punishment is death.

Is that actually from Sharia, or is it a later (say Delhi Sultanate/Mughal/Ottoman era) addition?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

What I don't understand is why conversion to any other religion other than Islam is a crime?

Actually, I believe per Islamic law converting from Islam to another religion is a crime. But converting from Christianity to Mormonism or from Judaism to Buddhism is not. Leaving Islam is what is not allowed and the punishment is death.

Is that actually from Sharia, or is it a later (say Delhi Sultanate/Mughal/Ottoman era) addition?

My understanding is its the former. But I could be wrong.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

What I don't understand is why conversion to any other religion other than Islam is a crime?

Actually, I believe per Islamic law converting from Islam to another religion is a crime. But converting from Christianity to Mormonism or from Judaism to Buddhism is not. Leaving Islam is what is not allowed and the punishment is death.

Is that actually from Sharia, or is it a later (say Delhi Sultanate/Mughal/Ottoman era) addition?

My understanding is its the former. But I could be wrong.

BTW, the question was not trivial--it would reveal whether it was original or reaction to reversion of forcibly converted dhimmis (some Christian and Jew, but vast majority Hindu) to original faith.