- Mar 12, 2003
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"KABUL, Afghanistan The jail commander had remained silent as the prisoner, Sayed Mussa, told a reporter about his journey from Islam to Christianity: his secret baptism nine years earlier, his faith in Jesus Christ and the promise of heaven.
But when Mr. Mussa said he believed in the Bible but also loved the Korans teachings, it was too much. So you love the Koran and the Bible? the commander broke in incredulously. What kind of love is this?
A guard thumbing Muslim prayer beads squared his shoulders and started to rise. You want me to beat him? he asked.
No, no, the commander said, calming himself and waving off the guard. Everyone has the right to express themselves.
Such has been Mr. Mussas life since his arrest for converting to Christianity nine months ago in a case that illustrates the contradictions and limits of religious freedom in Afghanistan.
Afghanistans Constitution, established in 2004, guarantees that people are free to exercise their faith. But it also leaves it open for the courts to rely on Shariah, or Islamic law, on issues like conversion. Under some interpretations of Shariah, leaving Islam is considered apostasy, an offense punishable by hanging.
Mr. Mussa, 46, is staring at the prospect of a death sentence."
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/06/world/asia/06mussa.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1&ref=world
Great, our troops are dying over there for that type of freedom. Freedom to be Muslim, or die if you are not. Sounds just like life under the Taliban except it is US sanctioned this time as "a free democratic people in Afghanistan" [yea obviously that is the case...they are really free].
Im sure Egypt will gain freedom in the same manner as this once the US backed "Pro-Democracy" people take over.
But when Mr. Mussa said he believed in the Bible but also loved the Korans teachings, it was too much. So you love the Koran and the Bible? the commander broke in incredulously. What kind of love is this?
A guard thumbing Muslim prayer beads squared his shoulders and started to rise. You want me to beat him? he asked.
No, no, the commander said, calming himself and waving off the guard. Everyone has the right to express themselves.
Such has been Mr. Mussas life since his arrest for converting to Christianity nine months ago in a case that illustrates the contradictions and limits of religious freedom in Afghanistan.
Afghanistans Constitution, established in 2004, guarantees that people are free to exercise their faith. But it also leaves it open for the courts to rely on Shariah, or Islamic law, on issues like conversion. Under some interpretations of Shariah, leaving Islam is considered apostasy, an offense punishable by hanging.
Mr. Mussa, 46, is staring at the prospect of a death sentence."
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/06/world/asia/06mussa.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1&ref=world
Great, our troops are dying over there for that type of freedom. Freedom to be Muslim, or die if you are not. Sounds just like life under the Taliban except it is US sanctioned this time as "a free democratic people in Afghanistan" [yea obviously that is the case...they are really free].
Im sure Egypt will gain freedom in the same manner as this once the US backed "Pro-Democracy" people take over.
