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Defending Executors of Christians

Tuesday, 9th May, 2006  

Just over a month ago an Afghan citizen who returned home after converting from Islam to Christianity in Pakistan 16 years previously was facing the death penalty. "If he doesn't revert back to Islam," a judge pronounced about Abdul Rahman, "he's going to receive the death penalty, according to the law."

The life of the Christian convert was saved by the government of Afghanistan declaring him mentally incompetent and allowing him to be flown to safety in Rome . Despite the tut-tutting of western politicians from George Bush to John Howard there was no retreat by Afghan ministers from an interpretation of sharia law justifying death for converts. (See the original politicalowl.com story here .)

On Sunday at a meeting of the Afghan parliament bottles were thrown at a woman MP who, as the London Times reported , dared to interrupt a former warlord as he praised the holy warriors - or Mujahidin - of Afghanistan during a debate to mark the anniversary of their defeat of communism. The 28 year old Malalai Joya declared that there were "two types of Mujahidin - one who were really Mujahidin, the second who killed tens of thousands of innocent people and who are criminals".

In the words of Tim Albone of the Times :

This was a step too far for the parliament's Islamic extremists and former warlords, who are still getting the hang of democracy. They leapt from their seats and rushed towards her. They hurled abuse and water bottles. Punches were thrown. Even women MPs joined in.

Moderate MPs had to form a protective ring around Mrs Joya as she was hurried from the chamber. "My supporters heard one MP tell someone to wait by the door and knife me as I walked out," she said.

In Canberra yesterday the Prime Minister John Howard held a joint press conference with his Defence Minister Dr Brendan Nelson to give details of the "Reconstruction Task Force" that Australia had previously announced would be sent to Afghanistan .

In July, Mr Howard said, 240 soldiers will begin going to "work on reconstruction and community based projects as part of Australia 's commitment to securing a stable and democratic future for Afghanistan ."

There was no description by Messrs Howard and Nelson of the kind of democracy that allows Christians to be killed if they once were Muslims and no questions from journalists about Mrs Joya's comment that: "There are two problems for these people: firstly, that I am a woman and, secondly, that I believe in democracy. They don't believe in democracy. They don't believe in women's rights."

The only interest of the Canberra press gallery was the cost.

The Labor Party was no more concerned than the journalists in what the 240 Australian troops will actually be fighting for. Kim Beazley might have doubts about being in Iraq but he is gung ho about defending Afghan style of democracy. So is Labor's Shadow Defence Minister Robert McClelland.

In a radio interview Mr McClelland was asked:

"Robert, you agree with the Government on this one I understand?

McCLELLAND: Yes we do. .

INTERVIEWER: Yes because you have been pointing out for some time now have you not, if you really look at threats to our nation's security Iraq is not the place we should be according to you guys but we should be strongly represented in Afghanistan?

McCLELLAND: Yes that's right. Most of those people who are under suspicion for terrorist activities in Australia have been trained in Afghanistan . It's worth on estimate about $2.3 billion - not million, but $2.3 billion - in drug trade from the opium trade. Much of that being used to fund terrorist organisations in our region. It is directly relevant to our regional security.

Sending more troops to defend an anti-Christian regime is fraught with danger for the Howard Government but Labor will not benefit.