ACLJ Calls on Afghanistan to Free Afghan Christian Who Faces Possible Death Sentence.

WASHINGTON -- The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), which specializes in constitutional law, announced today it is sending a letter to Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, the Afghanistan Ambassador to the United States - along with copies to United States officials including President Bush - urging them to drop the charges and free 41-year-old Abdul Rahman - an Afghan man who may be put to death for converting to Christianity.

The ACLJ is working in conjunction with its affiliated organization in Europe - the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) in Strasbourg, France. The ACLJ and ECLJ contend that Afghanistan must comply with its own constitution and international law which protects religious freedom - including the right to change one's religious beliefs.

"It's deeply disturbing that this incident is taking place in a country that America continues to protect and defend - a country that has now promised to protect religious freedom - not execute someone because of their beliefs," said Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the ACLJ. "Executing or imprisoning a person solely because of his religious beliefs violates the Afghan constitution as well as international law and would set a dangerous precedent for future religious prosecution worldwide. The thought of a convert to Christianity being put to death for his religious beliefs is intolerable. We call on the Afghan government to drop the criminal charges against Abdul Rahman and to set him free without delay."

In the letter (posted online at www.aclj.org), Sekulow provides a detailed legal analysis that concludes the criminal proceedings against Abdul Rahman violate both the Afghan constitution and international law.

Article 7 of the Afghan constitution ensures that Abdul Rahman and others like him enjoy "the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion . . . (which) includes freedom to change his religion or belief." The Afghan constitution also states that: "The state shall abide by the U.N. Charter, international treaties, international conventions that Afghanistan has signed, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."

Under the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 18 states: "Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

In addition to sending the letter to the Afghan President and Afghan Ambassador to the U.S., the ACLJ also is sending a copy of the letter to President Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and members of Congress.

Led by Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow, the American Center for Law and Justice specializes in constitutional law and is based in Washington, D.C. and is online at www.aclj.org.