Pope Lobbies for Afghan Christian Facing Death
Pope Benedict XVI has written to Afghan President Hamid Karzai asking that charges be dropped against a man facing a possible death sentence for converting from Islam to Christianity, the Vatican said.
The appeal to spare Abdur Rahman was sent in the pope’s name by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano, who said the pope’s appeal was inspired by the “firm belief in the dignity of human life and by respect for every person’s freedom of conscience and religion.”
Karzai also met with some Cabinet ministers on the case.
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