AFGHANISTAN: An Afghan court decided yesterday to stall a controversial case against a Christian facing the death penalty for refusing to renounce his faith and the man is likely to be released soon while the court reviews the evidence.
Following a storm of western criticism, the Afghan government has scrambled for a way to end the prosecution of Abdul Rahman (41), who converted to Christianity in Pakistan 16 years ago.
Yesterday, a supreme court spokesman said that the case was being reviewed because of "problems with the prosecutor's evidence". The case would be sent back to prosecutors while the attorney general examined whether Rahman was "fit to stand trial", he added.
Mr Rahman, who begged his jailers for a Bible, insists that he is of sound mind and willing to die for his faith. "I am serene and have full awareness . . . If I must die, I will die," he told the Italian daily La Repubblica, which sent questions to him via a human rights worker.
Yesterday, officials said that they were moving Mr Rahman to Pul-i-Charki, a notorious high-security facility containing hundreds of Taliban convicts, after fellow prisoners threatened to kill him in Kabul's main jail.
Mr Rahman stands accused of apostasy, or abandonment of faith - an offence punishable by hanging under Islamic law.