Afghan Christian Convert Rahman "Vanishes"

**UPDATE BELOW

Abdul Rahman, the Afghani convert from Islam to Christianity who was facing the death penalty for his conversion and whose case against him was dropped 2 days ago because he was "insane" (more likely because of political pressure) HAS VANISHED.  Abdul Rahman immediately sought asylum in several countries (Italy is willing to embrace him) but after his release into his family’s care, he has "vanished". 

Rahman’s conversion was 16 years ago, but in an apparent attempt by Rahman’s (ex)wife to gain custody of their children, she turned him in to the authorities.  It is not clear if the Rahmans have been divorced for some time or if they are currently divorcing, but it is probable that the grounds for divorce is apostasy for Rahman’s conversion.

Rahman’s life has been threatened as calls for his death resound throughout Afghanistan.  Yet Rahman insisted:

"I am serene. I have full awareness of what I have chosen. If I must die, I will die."

One can only hope he is in hiding.   He is an extraordinary example of why the Christian Church flourishes in the face of martyrdom. 

Michelle Malkin  The Anchoress  Sister Toldjah  Political Pit Bull 

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Update on Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 11:04AM by Amy Proctor

Update

ABDUL RAHMAN has safely left Afghanistan.  

Abdul Rahman left Afghanistan early Wednesday morning for Italy, which has offered him asylum.  He may arrive in Italy as early as today.  The Afghanistan parliament’s demand that Rahman be barred from fleeing the country was unsuccessful.  Rahman was taking refuge in a "safe location" inside Kabul before his departure.

The Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi said that Rome is happy to grant asylum to Abdul Rahman:

"I say that we are very glad to be able to welcome someone who has been so courageous," Berlusconi said.

Amen! 

Comments

[Meg]

Oh No! How scary. I hope the find him soon. Hopefully he was smart and left the country. DO you know if we offered him amnesty?

[Aimz]

I smell a rat, don't you? He's vanished, I'm with Meg and hope he's left the country.

[grumpy old fart]

Meg,

Amnesty? I think you mean asylum.

[Princess Jami]

The Afghan government seems truly upset by his disappearance, and are vowing to track him down, if he gains asylum in another country. I take hope from this, oddly enough, because I believe it means he has been spirited away to safety by caring friends and family, rather than those who are seeking to kill him. Praise God.

Islam - A religion of peace? Not hardly.

[Leticia]

I hope you all are right about his disapearance and not that he was murdered.

I pray he is safe wherever he may be.

[Fix4RSO]

At first I suspected he'd been whacked. Then, my positive side kicked in and hope that he has been spirited out of the country to somewhere safe. Pray it is the latter.

[Amy Proctor]

Grumpy, yes, it would be asylum. I"m sure that's what Meg meant. Amnesty would be irrelevant in Afghanistan at this point.

Princess, first of all, HOWDY! Glad to have you back. Hope everything is going well with you and Joman. :) Secondly, great comment. I had not heard that about Afghanistan. I believe the government itself is "truly upset by his disappearance" as you said, but the mob rule is what I worry about. My hope is that he has been safeguarded out of the country.

When I first saw this story last week and saw the video, I fell in love with Mr. Rahman. Even in the face of death and condemnation, he had a subtle smile on his face during the video that emanated peace and joy. It was a remarkable and endearing thing to see. Christians in America should be ashamed for all the complaining and whining we do. Abdul Rahman is a man of real faith in the spirit of the first Christian martyrs. My faith has been strengthened by his example.

My family has been praying daily for him and we won't stop until we know something one way or the other. I pray it has a positive outcome.

[Meg]

Grumpy, Oh my gosh! Duh! Of course I meant asylum. Thank you, Meg

[Jo]

Bet he's still inside that prison ... somewhere.

[radar]

We'll just have to pray for him....and pray to have the same strength of convictions when the piddly problems we face challenge our beliefs!

[Trent]

Excellent! Hearing that Rahman safely made it to Italy for asylum is the best news I've had all day! I thought he'd be dead by now, killed by the Afghan government or by independent Islamoterrorist groups, but I'm happy and pleased to admit I was wrong.

[Meg]

How fantastic! Italy is such a great country. I hope he can find peace there.

[Leticia]

Trent thank you so much for the great and wonderful news!!

[Amy Proctor]

Italy truly stepped up to the plate.

[PrincessJami]

This is such fantastic news. I didn't realize just how relieved I would feel when/if we heard about his safety. :-)