Afghan Lawmakers Demand Convert Be Kept
"Afghanistan"03/29/2006
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Afghanistan’s parliament demanded Wednesday that the government prevent a man who faced the death penalty for abandoning Islam for Christianity from being able to flee the country.
Abdul Rahman was released from prison Monday after a court dropped charges of apostasy against him because of a lack of evidence and suspicions he may be mentally ill. His whereabouts are unknown but he likely is still in the country.
Italy offered to grant Rahman asylum after Muslim clerics called for his death.
“We sent a letter and called the Interior Ministry and demanded they not allow Abdul Rahman to leave the country,” parliamentary speaker Yunus Qanooni told reporters.
Lawmakers spent the day debating the issue but did not take a formal vote on it. Qanooni was, however, speaking on behalf of the entire parliament.