Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I ask the Leader to draw the attention of the Minister for Foreign Affairs to the case of Abdul Rahman, about which I heard last night. Mr. Rahman is being tried this week in Kabul, Afghanistan, for converting from Islam to Christianity. Afghanistan has been rescued from the Taliban by international forces, particularly those of the US. Mr. Rahman could face the death penalty, which is being sought by prosecutors. I saw footage of him on television this morning and he appears willing to be a martyr for Christianity. It is akin to going back almost 2,000 years to hear about someone who is accused of converting from one religion to another and who is willing to give up his life for his new religion.

We must do something about this case. Germany, Italy and the US have drawn the Afghan Government's attention to the country's constitution which allows the death penalty for converting from Islam to another religion but we should draw the Afghan Government's attention to the outrage that we in the rest of the world feel about Abdul Rahman's case.