Christian convert in Afghanistan seeking foreign asylum: UN News
Christian convert in Afghanistan seeking foreign asylum: UN

[JURIST] Abdul Rahman [Wikipedia profile], currently facing the death penalty [JURIST report] in Afghanistan [ JURIST news archive] for converting from Islam to Christianity, has appealed for asylum, UN spokesman Adrian Edwards said Monday. Earlier Monday, several hundred people responded to a judge's decision that the prosecution lacked sufficient evidence [JURIST report] to proceed with the case by protesting Rahman's potential release [JURIST report]. Rahman was scheduled to undergo a mental examination [Reuters report] Monday, in a move thought by some to be a quiet way for the prosecution to respond to political pressure from Western governments [JURIST report].

Edwards did not mention specific countries in the statement, saying only that "Mr. Rahman has asked for asylum outside Afghanistan … We expect this will be provided by one of the countries interested in a peaceful solution to this case." AP has more.