Let There be no Compulsion in Religion

More on the converted Christian on trial in Afghanistan for his beliefs. The tricky part is squaring Sharia law with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, both part of the Afghan constitution. The latest is that the prosecution may claim the insanity defense, presumably as a way out of this mess. FoxNews:

Rahman's trial started last week. On Wednesday, a state prosecutor developed the unique position of asserting insanity in Rahman's defense.

An official said Rahman may be "mad," and "he doesn't talk like a normal person".

Apparently the US has spoken up on his behalf, as have our allies in Afghanistan--Germany, Italy and now Australia. Even CAIR, perhaps realizing the huge backlash this would generate in the US, has provided helpful quotes from the Quran:

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil liberties advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., said on Wednesday that Afghanistan needs to release Rahman. The group cited verses in the Quran to explain how it's wrong to persecute someone for choosing a different religion than Islam.

"Religious decisions should be matters of personal choice, not a cause for state intervention. Faith imposed by force is not true belief, but coercion. Islam has no need to compel belief in its divine truth. As the Quran states: 'Truth stands out clear from error. Therefore, whoever rejects evil and believes in God has grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks,' " according to a statement released by the group.

According to legal analysts, the Afghan constitution it could be interpreted in a secular or a religious manner, depending on the judge. Radio Free Afghanistan:

Ever since the demise of the Taliban regime, conservative judges have used their power base -- which includes strong support in the National Assembly -- to challenge Afghanistan's reform-minded government.

So far, these battles have mainly raged over the limits of press freedom.

The Abdul Rahman case, though, is more challenging for President Hamid Karzai. If he does not intervene, he will upset his Western backers. If he does, he will undermine his standing among conservatives, whose support he desperately depends on.

Karzai's administration will certainly be hard-pressed to openly support Abdul Rahman's case. The main source of the conservatives' legitimacy is that they are guardians of Islamic values and the country's interpreters of Islam, and they will presumably be determined to protect that legitimacy. Nor has there been any debate on the issue of apostasy that would at least have questioned the conservatives' position. It is a position that is open to question by religious scholars because the Koran contains numerous passages that could be read as supporting freedom of religious choice. One verse (Surah 2:226) states: "let there be no compulsion in religion." In another (in Surah 16:82) Prophet Mohammad is instructed that his "duty is only to preach the clear message" for those who "turn away" from Islam.

And we have gleaned a few more helpful quotes. How is it they were not widely shared with us non-Muslims before? Well, I am just thankful to have them. I will be even more thankful when this brave man is released, and when this is not an issue in other countries such as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. And of course Iran.

UPDATE: Via Jerusalem Post, AP. A "moderate" cleric says he will be killed anyway if freed.