As troops from around the world, including Canada, seek to defend the freedoms of Afghanistan's citizens, one of those citizens could be facing the death penalty for rejecting Islam. Sixteen years ago, Abdul Rahman converted from Islam to Christianity while working in Pakistan. Rahman (41) is separated from his wife. He was arrested last month after his family, who is fighting him over custody of his children, denounced him for being a convert. He was found with a Bible when arrested and accused of rejecting Islam. The prosecutor, Abdul Wasi, is seeking the death penalty. He has offered to drop all charges if Rahman would return to Islam but the offer has been refused. Judge Ansarullah Mawlavezada has called Rahman's conversion to Christianity "an attack on Islam." "If he doesn't regret his conversion, the punishment will be enforced on him," the judge said. "And the punishment is death." The verdict will be handed down within two months. Rahman is not represented by a lawyer and has no support from his family.
In an open letter to Canadian Prime Minister Harper, VOMC spokesman Glenn Penner wrote, "That this man is being prosecuted for exercising a basic human right is completely unacceptable and a violation of why we sent our troops to Afghanistan." Penner encourages Canadian Christians to contact the Prime Minister, asking him to pressure the Afghan president to respect the rights of all of the citizens of Afghanistan, including Christians.
Pray that the charges against Abdul will be dropped. Ask God to move the hearts of government leaders in free nations to use their influence to facilitate the release of Abdul. Pray that he will remain faithful in his witness for Christ. Pray that the Lord will use Abdul's testimony to create an interest in the claims of Jesus Christ in the lives of many in Afghanistan.
For more information on the persecution of Christians in Afghanistan, click here.
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