In a country where 80 percent of the population is Sunni Muslim and 19 percent are Shiite Muslim, the questioning of religious freedom is not a top priority; at least that was the case until several AP reports came out claiming that a 41-year old Afghan man was arrested, put on trial, and eventually released for converting from Islam to Christianity. Abdul Rahman converted to Christianity 16 years ago while working with a Christian based NGO that aided Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Several Human Rights groups took notice of the case and it sparked a media frenzy in occupying nations Germany, Italy, Canada, and most notably the United States. These countries have claimed that men and women of all faiths have fought and died to liberate Afghanistan from their former Taliban Regime, which harbored Al-Queda terrorists, and therefore it is intolerable that the country should kill their own for converting to another faith. Afghanistan claims that there constitution is based on the Koran which calls for death for anyone who abandons Islam; however, the constitution also calls for the observation of religious freedom, which legal experts are claiming is contradictory. His recent release on Monday, March 27, was based on lack of evidence and claims that he was mentally unfit to stand trial, but these findings came only after pressures from the West to have the trial dismissed. Afghan clerics have encouraged the people of Afghanistan to kill Rahman upon his release. Rahman is currently seeking political asylum in a Western country, but many are scared if he is able to secure asylum others will convert simply to escape the country. The “War on Terror” gained support by claiming to be spreading democracy around the world and with Afghanistan forbidding the free practice of religion, it seems that democracy may have not reached it proposed destination. One might begin to question the intentions of a country that will accept monetary funds from countries where a religion other than Islam is dominant, but they will not accept a member of their own population who chooses another faith. Why should America and other democratic countries fight for a country who continues to oppress its own people?

Questions? Comments?
Want to submit an article?
Contact us at
jthickman@vwc.edu