Afganistan and Muslim Law

Featured Columnist
Charles Adler

Charles, I'm incredibly proud.
For the first time in more
years than I can remember it felt
as though Canada was a world player.
Our men and women are making a difference over
in Afghanistan -- they're putting their lives on the
line, standing up for our country -- and
finally, a Canadian leader went down into the
'trenches,' so to speak, and acknowledged their
commitment. Bravo Mr. Harper!"
This is typical of the kind of e-mail I have received on
the prime minister's recent trip to Afghanistan.
I have no trouble saying "Bravo Mr. Harper."
But I wonder whether the bravo of our citizens should
be conditional. Should we expect the Afghan
government to allow Abdul Rahman to live as a
free man, even though he is a Christian?
The story may not be as important as the political
contest that Belinda Stronach is in with Bob Rae. But
since we are committing the lives of our sons and
daughters to Afghanistan, should we demand that their
government treat Abdul Rahman and the rest of its
citizens with some Canadian common decency?
Rahman was born a Muslim 42 years ago.
He left Afghanistan when he was a little boy and while
working with a Christian aid organization converted to
Christianity. He moved back to Afghanistan three years
ago. Strike 1. He moved in with his father and shared
with him the fact that he had converted to Christianity.
Strike 2. Running afoul of the law, he came into contact
with the police. They found in his possession a
green-coloured Christian Bible. Strike 3.
In a country that Canadian troops are now sworn to
defend, Sharia law is the code.
While the dreaded Taliban may not be in charge of the
courts, the men who wear the robes of Afghan justice
aren't the kind that Spencer Tracy represented in the
movies. Judgment at Kabul is nothing like
Judgment at Nuremburg, except for one thing.
The sentence for serving Jesus may be the same as
for serving Hitler.
Judge Ansarullah Mawlavezada, knowing that he has
a western audience paying at least a thimble of
attention, makes a point of saying that he respects
all religions. He says that he does not support the
dreaded Taliban's enforcement of Sharia law.
This was the crowd that amputated limbs in a soccer
stadium in Kabul that is now, mercifully, being used
for soccer. The lucky sinners got amputations.
Others were beheaded. Some of those others were
women who made the mistake of not walking
several steps behind their husbands or making the
mistake of going shopping without being escorted
by their husbands or the even bigger mistake of secretly
teaching their daughters to read.
The judge wants you to know that he is not the
beast that the Taliban would want him to be.
Nevertheless he says to the court,
"If Rahman doesn't regret his conversion to Christianity,
the punishment will be enforced on him and the
punishment is death."
While we are saying bravo to the prime minister for
supporting our troops and while many are talking about
the guts the prime minister displayed in flying into a
combat zone, might we ask Mr. Harper to send one
simple message to the government of Afghanistan?
"We Canadians are not prepared to shed one more
drop of blood to support your government if the sword
of your government draws the blood of Abdul Rahman."
Standing up for Canada means standing
up for Mr. Rahman's choice to worship
his Lord.
God bless Canada and our prime minister.