Advocates of Religious Freedom Wary of Afghanistan's Pro-Islamic Constitution
by Chad Groening and Jody Brown
January 30, 2004
(AgapePress) - A ministry dedicated to the persecuted Christian Church says the recently unveiled Afghan constitution raises serious questions about the future of religious freedom in that country.The new Afghan constitution begins by declaring that "Afghanistan is an Islamic Republic." It goes on to say that followers of other religions are free to practice their religious rites, provided that practice is within the limits of the provisions of the law, and that no law can be contrary to the "sacred religion of Islam."
Todd Nettleton is with Voice of the Martyrs, an Oklahoma-based ministry aiding Christians worldwide who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ. He believes the Afghan constitution raises some obvious issues about religious freedom.
"What is the role of Afghan Christians?" he asks. "Does the government even recognize the possibility that an Afghan can be a Christian?"
In addition, Nettleton says he is concerned about Afghanistan welcoming back terrorists. "If a radical Islamic government comes back into power there and does put out the welcome mat for terrorists, I'm sure they would be happy to come back," he says.
Echoing Nettleton's concerns is a group of individuals appointed to an independent federal panel by the president and congressional leaders. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom fears that the constitution, along with Afghanistan's reconstructed legal system, might be used by "extremists" to deny universal human rights -- including freedom of religion and belief -- to all Afghans.
"There is a danger that Afghanistan could return to Taliban-like religious coercion of the behavior of individual Muslims," the USCIRF says in a recent report. "The U.S. government should insist that individual rights to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and belief be explicitly set forth in the Afghan constitution."
In a specific recommendation to the president, the secretary of state, and Congress, the Commission says the Afghan constitution should also exclude the use of blasphemy, "offending Islam," apostasy, or similar offenses to stifle debate or restrict religious freedom.
Nettleton adds that the new constitution calls into question the idea that democracy can co-exist with Islam. He challenges anyone to point to an Islamic country where democracy is functioning and people have freedom of faith.
"Can a Muslim in an Islamic country decide to be a Buddhist or decide to be a Christian? What happens to them then?" the VOM spokesman asks. "If they have that freedom, that would truly be religious freedom -- and I don't think you can point to a country where that exists."
