Conservative syndicated columnist, Michelle Malkin, has asked who will save Abdual Rahman? Abdual Rahman, a citizen of Afghanistan, born a Muslim, converted to Christianity. The Afghanistan constitution permits freedom of worship, but not freedom of religion. If you are born a Christian, you may worship as a Christian. But Sharia law, which the Afghan constitution is based on, does not permit the embracing of any religion other than Islam. Abdual’s own family turned him into the government. He has said, “They want to sentence me to death, and I accept it.” Abdual has few options while he awaits to see if the courts will enforce the death penalty on him for his religious choice. He could be declared mentally incompetent in order to avoid the trial. The Attorney General and the Prosecutor have both called for the death penalty. Even the judge has said that if he doesn’t regret his conversion, the punishment will be enforced.

Michlle Malkin is quick to criticize the liberal left and the Bush Administration for doing nothing on the issue. Malkin states that, “Embarrassingly, the government of Italy and Germany have already stepped forward to make direct appeals to (Afghan President) Karzari to save Rahman’s life.” She neglects to tell you that Rep. Tom Lantos, the ranking Democrat on the House International Relations Committee, wrote a letter to Afghan President Karzari asking him to intervene. Lantos wrote, “In a country where soldiers from all faiths, including Christianity, are dying in defense of your government, I find it outrageous that Mr. Rahman is being prosecuted and facing the death penalty for converting to Christianity”. While we in the United States believe in freedom of religion, the United States has to be careful with this issue. We are not an imperial power; we are not a colonial power, governing Afghanistan. If we are to be viewed as liberators, we must allow the Afgan people the right of self-determination. With our Military forces as the primary occupation force, we must not be seen as imposing our will. We must encourage and support, and even pressure, but never force our will upon the Afghan people. We must recognize their sovereignty.

Michelle Malkin, how easy you find it to cast stones at the Catholic Church and Amnesty International for not taking up this cause. Have you donated any money to either of these groups? Why should you be the judge of which causes they should embrace with their limited resources? Why not ask Jerry Falwell, the 700 Club, the Southern Baptist and Fox network to take the cause? As for Hollywood, I am sure they will show us as soon as they see enough drama around the story to make money from telling it. In the mean time, maybe your efforts would be better spent encouraging the religious right to take up the issue instead of casting stones at the liberal left.