Wednesday, March 22, 2006
CAIR Calls For Release Of Afghan Christian
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CAIR CALLS FOR RELEASE OF AFGHAN CHRISTIAN

Islamic civil rights group says conversion a personal, not state matter

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/22/2006) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today called on the
government of Afghanistan to release Abdul Rahman, a man facing the death penalty for converting from Islam to
Christianity.

The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) says the man's conversion is a personal matter not
subject to the intervention of the state.

Wednesday, March 22, 2006
CAIR Calls For Release Of Afghan Christian

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CAIR CALLS FOR RELEASE OF AFGHAN CHRISTIAN
Islamic civil rights group says conversion a personal, not state matter

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/22/2006) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights
and advocacy group today called on the
government of Afghanistan to release Abdul Rahman, a man facing the death
penalty for converting from Islam to
Christianity.

The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) says the
man's conversion is a personal matter not
subject to the intervention of the state.

SEE: Afghan Christian Could Face Death
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/22/world/main1428951.shtml

In its statement, CAIR said:

"Islamic scholars say the original rulings on apostasy were similar to
those for treasonous acts in legal systems
worldwide and do not apply to an individual's choice of religion. Islam
advocates both freedom of religion and freedom
of conscience, a position supported by verses in the Quran, Islam's
revealed text, such as:

1) 'If it had been the will of your Lord that all the people of the world
should be believers, all the people of the
earth would have believed! Would you then compel mankind against their
will to believe?' (10:99)
2) '(O Prophet) proclaim: 'This is the Truth from your Lord. Now let him
who will, believe in it, and him who will, deny
it.'' (18:29)
3) 'If they turn away from thee (O Muhammad) they should know that We have
not sent you to be their keeper. Your only
duty is to convey My message.' (42:48)
4) 'Let there be no compulsion in religion.' (2:256)

"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.' (2:256)

"We urge the government of Afghanistan to order the immediate release of
Mr. Abdul Rahman."

Before issuing its statement, CAIR consulted with members of the Fiqh
Council of North America, an association of
Islamic legal scholars that interprets Muslim religious law.

CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 32 offices,
chapters and affiliates nationwide and in Canada.
Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue,
protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual
understanding.

- END -
www.cair-net.org