Australia to protest Afghan prosecution
Friday Mar 24 11:51 AEDT
Prime Minister John Howard will personally protest to the Afghanistan government over the prosecution of a man who faces possible execution for converting from Islam to Christianity.
Mr Howard said those who would advocate such a course were no friends of Australia.
Australian diplomats in Kabul have already expressed Australia's view to the Afghanistan government.
"I am going to personally protest again to the president of Afghanistan," he told Southern Cross radio.
"This is appalling. When I saw the report about this I felt sick literally.
"We are putting the lives of Australian soldiers on the line. This is outrageous. The idea that a person could be punished because of their religious belief and the idea they might be executed is just beyond belief.
"I am very unhappy about it."
Mr Howard said he would take up the man's case personally, writing to President Hamid Karzai reinforcing Australia's concerns.
He said there could be no justification of any description and he would have the same level of anger if the man was under threat for converting to Judaism or Islam.
"It has got nothing to do with the identity of the religion. It is the principle," he said.
The US has also protested in strong terms. President Karzai relies on the support of the US and coalition nations including Australia to confront a growing insurgency, backed by terror group al-Qaeda and the ousted Taliban regime.
Islamic clerics have said local people will tear the man to pieces if the government bows to western pressure.
"I don't want friends like that. Whoever said that is no friend of Australia," Mr Howard said.
"But it's still a very divided country and no doubt some people will say there's a balancing act that has got to be performed.
"But on issues like this we are very unhappy."
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=92784 
