Open Letter to Afghani Ambassador

I'm sending the following letter to Washington today:


Ambassador Said T. Jawad
Embassy of Afghanistan
2341 Wyoming Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008

March 21, 2006

Dear Mr. Ambassador:

I have been reading these past two days articles on Mr. Abdul Rahman, currently in jail in Afghanistan and on trial for his life for the simple “crime” of converting to Christianity. It is difficult for me to express just how angry the very fact of this trial makes me. This is one of the worst possible messages your country can send to the rest of the world, most importantly the country which liberated your people from the tyranny of the Taliban regime.

Conversion to Christianity cannot, under any reasonable system of law, be considered a crime in any way. That Mr. Rahman is in jail, on trial, facing the death penalty, and being condemned by everyone from his jailers to his family to the judge in the case, is extremely troubling and, if left on its course, should make people write off your young government as no better at all than what was in place before. Honestly, why in the world should one more drop of American, Christian blood be spent saving your country from itself when this is the thanks that you provide?

Such persecution is also a clear violation of your own country’s constitution and of Article 18 of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which reads, “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.”

I will be writing to my State Department, my Congressman, my Senators, and our President to put pressure on you and your government to stop this ridiculous trial from moving forward, to free Mr. Rahman, and to prevent charges like these from being brought against anyone else in the future. You must realize that not only is this intolerable, it is bad for your country and smacks of totalitarianism. You have a vested interest in disposing of this bigotry completely and allowing people the freedom to practice whatever religion they believe in.

Regards,

Michael J Kellogg