Afghan Court Drops Case Against Christian

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan court on Sunday dismissed a case against a man who converted from Islam to Christianity because of a lack of evidence and he will be released soon, officials said. The announcement came as U.S.-backed President Hamid Karzai faced mounting foreign pressure to free Abdul Rahman, a move that risked angering Muslim clerics here who have called for him to be killed.

An official closely involved with the case told The Associated Press that it had been returned to the prosecutors for more investigation, but that in the meantime, Rahman would be released. More...

I don't think it's over for Mr. Rahman. Unfortunately, in Afghanistan's new constitution, the death penalty is required for apostasy. Evidence won't be lacking for long and charges could be brought a second time, and presumably will be. Secondly, even his family thinks he should be put to death. And if you can't even count on family..........

A third point to consider, there are plenty Afghanis who think he should be put to death; his life is at risk, now that he is not in custody.

What this underscores, in my opinion (yes, Molly Ivins - I'll continue to opine - much to your dismay and mortification, I'm sure) is how Islam and freedom, democracy, and liberty are at odds with each other.