Yet that is just what is unfolding in Afghanistan. All of which must be very embarrassing for Afghan President Hamid Karzai. However, Moayuddin Baluch, a religious adviser to Karzai thinks he has the answer - insanity. Baluch points to a statement by prosecutor Sarinwal Zamari that ... "We think Abdul Rahman could be mad. He is not a normal person. He doesn't talk like a normal person."
So is this the way out for Afghanistan? Is this the sensible way to save face? The implication that Abdul Rahman was insane to convert must appear a winning ploy - but ducks the question about just what sort of democracy and freedom have the American's imposed in Afghanistan. Surely a reform of the law would be a more sensible way forward. Getting rid of the Taliban was generally popular - getting rid of archaic laws would be a smart move as well.
Islam is in need of good PR and incidents such as the case of Abdul Rahman can easily derail the campaign to show that modern Islam is a tolerant religion.
The Christians also need to be careful not to get too righteous in all this. Mind you it is a while since they burnt witches at the stake.
BACKGROUND
Abdul Rahman (pictured centre left) is charged with rejecting Islam and could face the death sentence under Sharia law unless he recants.He converted 16 years ago as an aid worker helping refugees in Pakistan. His estranged family denounced him in a custody dispute over his two children.
It is thought to be Afghanistan's first such trial, reflecting tensions between conservative clerics and reformists.
Trial judge Ansarullah Mawlazezadah has said that the 41 year old Abdul Rahman will be asked to reconsider his conversion.
"We will invite him again because the religion of Islam is one of tolerance. We will ask him if he has changed his mind. If so we will forgive him," the judge said.
But if he refused to reconvert, then his mental state would be considered first before he was dealt with under Sharia law, the judge added.
He said he expected the case to take about two months to be heard.
Precedent
The Afghan Human Rights Commission has called for a better balance in the judiciary, with fewer judges advocating Sharia law and more judges with a wider legal background.
Several journalists have been prosecuted under blasphemy laws in post-Taleban Afghanistan.
The editor of a women's rights magazine was convicted of insulting Islam and sentenced to death last year - but was later released after an apology and heavy international pressure.
Mr Karzai's office says the president will not intervene in the case.
Observers say executing a converted Christian would be a significant precedent as a conservative interpretation of Sharia law in Afghanistan.
REACTION - "Tolerant like the Taliban"
Around Europe the media was quick to attack. Denmark's notorious Jyllands-Posten, the daily that first ran the Prophet Mohammad cartoons, quoted Syrian-born member of parliament Naser Khader as saying: "If necessary, Danish troops should liberate Abdur Rahman and Denmark should offer him asylum. This matter underlines that sharia must be fought wherever it exists," he said.
"Tolerant like the Taliban!" was Munich's Sueddeutsche Zeitung's take.
Die Welt in Berlin wrote that Afghanistan faced "the dark ages of barbarity" if it executed Rahman.
Milan's Corriere della Sera said Western states helping Afghanistan should launch a movement to reform Islam there.
The Dutch daily Trouw wrote. "We have a duty not to cooperate in bringing back the burning of heretics at the stake."
France's Marianne magazine made clear Western critics might not be satisfied if the Kabul court arranges to avoid the death sentence by declaring Rahman insane and unfit for trial. "If he is not tried, he will probably end up in a psychiatric hospital, which for a man of sound mind is sometimes worse than death," it commented.Tags: Morocco Fes Afghanistan Islam
7 comments:
I don't understand you Samir. The Christians are "righteous" and "fundementalist" and the Muslims are "silly" when do such outrageous and unreasonable things. This is not a time to be politically correct when the Muslims are messing in their own house. If the Muslims care about their PR, now is the time to go protest in the streets. Much better than when a "silly" cartoon appear so similar to the many drawings and etches that you find in musulman literature since the beginning of musulman religion.
I understand completely! Samir is saying that Muslims don't need an outrageous show of fundamentalism such as the beheading of a man for becoming Christian. It would inflame tensions. Samir is right. He is not saying be pc.
I am reading a man who is not a muslim but want to be like them. Samir is doing very much for Morocco but he is not doing very much for muslim. I am agreeing with Kalila2 who say that what is happening in Afghanistan is not "silly". It is the way he say it. He doesnt mache his words like that when he speak of the christians that anyone can see he doesnt like. It is better to be honest and criticise the muslims when they are being very stupid.
Salam,
Nasir, I disagree. He is saying muslims should curb fundamentalism and that Christians should not be arrogant. He is asking for tolerance on all sides. I applaud anyone who calls for moderation on BOTH sides. I also agree with Samir that Muslims need to react to fundamentalism strongly and "be seen to do so".
Kalila, I think he uses the word "silly" in an ironic way.
I am not Moslem, so it was good to read the blog and begin to understand that there are moderate voices on both sides.
I like your blog and have even tried cooking one of the recipes.
LOL! Yes of course I was being ironic - it is a national trait that some cultures don't get - especially in translation. I fully agree with Kalila2 and if my intention was not clear - my apologies!
when you are making the comments in a public place where many people from many different culture and language read, it is better to not use subtle irony and doubles entrendres. That is what results with the misunderstandings and the bad communication. Maybe Bob knows Samir already well, but I don't know Samir. I can only understand him from what I read here in his blog. And I like the blog very much. But not when he is trying too hard to say only the nice things about people even when they are doing very bad things.
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