Afghan Court Dismisses Case vs. Christian Convert

Abdul Rahman has had his case in Afghani court for being a convert from Islam to Christianity dropped. Even as the judge in the case was declaring his independence from Western influence, he now says there insufficient evidence for a trial.

"The case,"The case, because of some technical as well as legal flaws and shortcomings, has been referred back to the prosecutor's office," the judge, Ansarullah Mawlavizada, told Reuters.

He declined to elaborate or say if the review would delay the trial, which had been due to begin in coming days.

A prosecutor said Rahman's mental state would be examined on Monday following suggestions that he may be mentally unstable.

Rahman, detained this month for converting to Christianity, told an Italian newspaper from his Kabul jail cell that he was ready to die for his new faith.

The question remains as to what will happen next. There is still going to be an examination of Abdul Rahman's mental condition and at least one cleric has stated that he would incite the mob to "tear his to pieces." The pressure to resolve this case and avoid the death penalty has grow each day. Even one Afghani newspaper called for his release. A diplomat suggested that exile may be the result.

Through it all Rahman has stayed steadfast in his claim to be a Christian. The Italian newspaper La Repubblica published an interview with him as reported by AP.

"I am serene. I have full awareness of what I have chosen. If I must die, I will die," Abdul Rahman told the Rome daily, responding to questions sent to him via a human rights worker who visited him in prison.

"Somebody, a long time ago, did it for all of us," he added in a clear reference to Jesus.

Rahman also told the Italian newspaper that his family — including his ex-wife and teenage daughters — reported him to the authorities three weeks ago.

He said he made his choice to become a Christian "in small steps," after he left Afghanistan 16 years ago. He moved to Pakistan, then Germany. He tried to get a visa in Belgium.

"In Peshawar I worked for a humanitarian organization. They were Catholics," Rahman said. "I started talking to them about religion, I read the Bible, it opened my heart and my mind."