"Religion of Peace" to Kill Another

A couple of days ago I wrote about the case of Abdul Rahman here. He is a former Muslim who converted to Christianity and now faces the death penalty in Afghanistan for that choice.

The Italian newspaper, Ansa, reports in, "Steps Taken for Afghan Convert," how the international community has responded to the case. It writes:

Germany's top bishop, Cardinal Karl Lehmann, reiterated on Wednesday that the case was "an alarming sign" on Afghanistan's lack of respect for religious freedom .

"Freedom of religion is a generally recognised human right," the cardinal said Meanwhile, the international human rights organisation Amnesty International said Afghanistan should respect international standards as a signatory to the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights.

Two German cabinet ministers said Tuesday Germany said would appeal directly to President Karzai and "do everything in its power" to save the life of Rahman, who returned home from Germany after a US-led coalition drove out the Islamic fundamentalist Taliban regime in 2002.

Rahman's case is believed to be the first of its kind in Afghanistan and highlights the struggle between religious conservatives and reformists over what shape Islam will take four years after the Taliban were toppled.

It adds:

The Vatican recently called for reciprocal religious rights in the Muslim world in the wake of widespread riots against controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.

The Vatican's de facto representative in Afghanistan has applauded the international response to Rahman's plight.

Father Giuseppe Moretti, the only priest in Afghanistan, said Tuesday he was "happy" with the response "because "it's not just a question of defending a man's life but also defending religious freedom."

Moretti, who was sent as a one-man Vatican mission and started services in the Italian embassy chapel when it reopened in 2002, added that he was "in a delicate position" since anyone who tried to promote a religion other than Islam "is thrown out of the country."

Mr. Rahman, with supporters like this ... you are gonna die! Your previous religion, you know, the "Religion of Peace," kills its apostates and under Sharia Law. In Afghanistan that is the way it must be under the constitution.

Killing apostates is how the various tribal groups discourage individual thinking and critical analysis. Those who leave the tribe must be killed or others might dare it. It is why mysticism and tribalism are often so intermingled.

But look at the bright side, Mr. Rahman. You won't get any virgins, but you will get to hang out with the big guy as a Christian.

What a waste. I never understand the mystics who motivate their followers to die for their deity. Religions and political tyrannies are so more alike than they realize. They all share one common view, that of man being not free, but a vassal to serve their leader.

Update: Michelle Malkin reports on some of the other efforts on the behalf of Rahman. It doesn't change much. The major thing different now in Afghanistan is that before the government did not care when the world erupted in outrage when the Taliban ordered Hindu's to wear yellow badges so they could be identified or when they destroyed the Bamiyan Buddhas. Today, the government does care ... time will tell whether it matters.