Afghan Christian Convert Set to be Executed

As noted previously, Said Musa has been imprisoned in Afghanistan for the crime of converting to Christianity.  According to some articles, he has been sentenced to be hanged (and, depending on timing, may have been already). 

The World Evangelical Alliance’s Religious Liberty Commission has protested, claiming this violates Afghanistan’s own Constitution.  The article also notes that

Afghanistan is ranked No. 3 on Open Doors’ World Watch List of countries with the worst Christian persecution.

As noted at the Wall Street Journal, the US government has called on Afghanistan to

respect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a document endorsed by Afghanistan that upholds freedom of religion.

Afghan authorities reportedly hold two men prisoner after they converted to Christianity (one mentioned here), for which they could face the death penalty.  The Afghan government’s response?

Afghan officials have been unapologetic.  “The sentence for a convert is death and there is no exception,” said Jamal Khan, chief of staff at the Ministry of Justice.  “They must be sentenced to death to serve as a lesson for others.”

The US military is actively allied with the Afghan government in its fight against the insurgency.  A column at the American Spectator wonders if this is the kind of “freedom” for which “our Soldiers are dying” in Afghanistan.

Via the Religion Clause.