Afghan Christian Could Get Death Sentence

By DANIEL COONEY
The Associated Press
Washington Post

KABUL, Afghanistan -- An Afghan man is being prosecuted in a Kabul court and could be sentenced to death on a charge of converting from Islam to Christianity, a crime under this country's Islamic laws, a judge said Sunday.

The trial is believed to be the first of its kind in Afghanistan and highlights a struggle between religious conservatives and reformists over what shape Islam should take here four years after the ouster of the Islamic fundamentalist Taliban regime." Reg. required.

This is quite illustrative of the problems and difficulties of trying to democratize and promote freedom in countries where Islam is the rule. Islam principles and Sharia law are incompatible with democracy, freedom, and tolerance - particularly religious freedom.