Group's Letter, Petition Urge Bush to Champion Religious Freedom in Afghanistan
by Allie Martin
April 6, 2006
(AgapePress) - - A pro-family lobbying group is asking President Bush to demand that the Afghan constitution be changed -- or else start taking U.S. troops out of that country. The Christian Action Network (CAN) recently sent a letter to the White House, demanding that America pull its troops from Afghanistan if it does not amend its constitution to permit freedom of religious beliefs, including Christianity. The letter comes on the heels of the recent release of Afghan Christian convert Abdul Rahman, who has since been granted asylum in Italy.
"Specifically, Mr. President, Afghanistan must eliminate Article Three Ch. 1, Art. 3 of its constitution that states: 'In Afghanistan, no law can be contrary to the beliefs and provisions of the sacred religion of Islam,'" the letter states. "[We] respectfully request that you use the full powers of your office to either convince Afghanistan to remove this vicious Article from its constitution or pull our troops out of the country."
Now, U.S.-based Christian news source Compass Direct reports that in the wake of Rahman's release, more Christians have been arrested in Afghanistan for their faith. Martin Mawyer, president of the Christian Action Network, believes President Bush must get tough on the predominantly Muslim nation.
"President Bush needs to explain to the American people why Christian boys and girls are over there serving, possibly dying, in a country that's going to turn around and kill Christians," he asserts.
Still, Mawyer sees a positive coming out of Rahman's arrest, prosecution before an Afghan court, and subsequent release -- despite calls from Muslim clerics for his execution. He believes it has raised awareness of Afghanistan's intolerance for religious freedom.
"It has raised the bar somewhat," he acknowledges, "but I think that the Christian public and the American public as well are pretty ignorant as to what this battle is all about."
He contends most people do not know the "ultimate goals" of radical Muslims. "Most people do not understand that their true, stated goal, is to restore the Caliphate -- which is basically a supreme religious leader of the Muslim world -- and to conquer the rest of the world," Mawyer explains.
CAN has placed on its website a petition asking President Bush to pull American troops from Afghanistan unless that country's constitution is amended to allow religious freedom.
Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
