By AMIR SHAH, Associated Press Writer 18 minutes ago
KABUL, Afghanistan - Under mounting foreign pressure, President Hamid Karzai searched on Saturday for a way to free an Afghan man on trial for converting from Islam to Christianity without angering Muslim clerics who have called for him to be killed.
Karzai and several Cabinet ministers discussed the case of Abdul Rahman, who faces a possible death sentence for alleged apostasy, an official at Karzai's palace said. But she declined to comment on the outcome of the talks on Saturday.
Hours earlier, another official said Rahman "could be released soon." Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter with the media.
But clerics have questioned Karzai's authority to order Rahman's release and have warned of a possible revolt if he tries.
"The Quran is very clear and the words of our prophet are very clear. There can only be one outcome: death," said cleric Khoja Ahmad Sediqi, who is also a member of the Supreme Court. "If Karzai releases him, it will play into the hands of our enemy and there could be an uprising."
Rahman is being prosecuted under Afghanistan' Islamic laws for converting 16 years ago while working as a medical aid worker for an international Christian group helping Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
The case has put Karzai in an awkward position.
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How many people are killed there a year, and no one even cares, but because he is a christian,, all of a sudden he's a fucking saint, and we have to do everything to save him. He knows the laws there, and knew what would happen if he returned. He should be getting the same amount of news coverage as everyone else in that country, who is in jail or on trial. I don't agree with sentencing someone to death for there religous beliefs, but that is neither here nor there, we should not be interfearing with them. I mean countries disagree with Texas killing mentally handicapped people, yet we still did it. Coutries disagreed with our attack on Iraq, yet we still did it, why do our beliefs and opinions matter more then others? I kind of remember hearing something about all men being created equal,,sound familiar to anyone?
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