firm belief in the dignity of human life

[APOCALYPSE]

Pope makes Afghan convert appeal
Abdul Rahman is interviewed during a hearing in Kabul
Abdul Rahman was arrested earlier this month
Pope Benedict XVI has asked the Afghan president to show clemency towards a man facing possible execution for converting to Christianity.

Abdul Rahman has been charged with apostasy, a religious offence.

The Vatican said the pontiff had appealed to President Hamid Karzai to respect human rights guarantees enshrined in the Afghan constitution.

The Afghan government has been holding talks on the fate of Mr Rahman, who officials say "could be released soon".

Mr Rahman is on trial charged with rejecting Islam. He could be executed under Islamic Sharia law unless he reconverts.

'Understanding and respect'

The appeal was sent in a letter in Pope Benedict XVI's name by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano.

The note, excerpts of which were released by the Vatican, said the pope's appeal was inspired by "profound human compassion" and by a "firm belief in the dignity of human life and by respect for every person's freedom of conscience and religion".

Releasing Mr Rahman would "contribute in a most significant way to our common mission to foster mutual understanding and respect among the world's different religions and cultures", it added.

The Afghan government has come under growing international pressure on the issue.

The US has urged President Karzai to seek a "favourable resolution" to the case.

Austria, current holder of the European Union's rotating presidency, said it would "leave no stone unturned" to protect Mr Rahman.

Should the pope stick his nose into this matter, why can't the west understand that converting to another religion for a muslim means that he will be put to death. Simple choice death or islam

[has 786]

This whole issue has troubled me, on a spiritual and rational level. I believe the reason for this ruiling in the quran was in response to people 'converting' to islam in the morning and leaving the faith in the evining. Apparently, this was a popular practise in the early days of islam, it was a tactic used by the disbelivers to undermine our great faith. The question of treason also comes into play.

[APOCALYPSE]

From a compassion point of view people should not be put to death for changing their religion I feel. Sometimes they're born into a faith because of their family and they might feel they just going through the motions and are not trie belivers. But freedom of choice is a noble notion but should the penalty be so severe. Maybe amputation instead.