'Voices From Afghanistan' Exhibit Profiled In 'The Washington Post'

"The Post's" Style section highlights the exhibit at the Library of Congress, which showcases some of the thousands of handwritten scrolls and letters sent in by listeners to RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan. More

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Germany Wants Karzai To Intervene In Conversion Case

March 21, 2006

Hamid Karzai (file photo) (epa)

March 21, 2006 -- A German minister has been quoted today as asking Afghan President Hamid Karzai to intervene in the case of an Afghan man who risks the death penalty for converting to Christianity.

Germany's "Bild" newspaper quotes Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul as saying the German government "will do everything possible to save the life of Abdul Rahman."

Rahman, who lived in Germany for years, was detained in Afghanistan after authorities learned of his conversion.

Afghan Supreme Court Judge Ansarullah Mawlavizada said Rahman went on trial last week.

Officials say he faces possible execution if he refuses to revert back to Islam. Islamic Shari'a law prescribes death for Muslims who convert to another religion.

(AFP, ITAR-TASS)

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Islam In A Pluralistic World

A Muslim woman (left) watches a Christian procession in Madrid in March (AFP)

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CONFERENCE ON ISLAM: A major international conference on Islam concluded in Vienna in November 2005 with strong appeals from prominent Muslim leaders to recognize international terrorism as simply "terrorism." Political figures from Islamic countries, including the presidents of Iraq and Afghanistan, argued that it should never be labeled "Islamic" or "Muslim" terrorism because Islam is based on peace, dialogue, and tolerance. "Salaam" -- meaning "peace" -- was the key word of the three-day conference, titled "ISLAM IN A PLURALISTIC WORLD."
Iraqi President Jalal Talibani and Afghan President Hamid Karzai used the word in their remarks to emphasize the peaceful nature of Islam. Other speakers quoted passages from the Koran to the effect that all men and women, regardless of faith, are creatures of God and should live in peace with each other without discrimination...(more)

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Listen to Afghan President HAMID KARZAI's complete address to the Vienna conference (in English):
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Listen to UN special envoy LAKHDAR BRAHIMI's complete address to the Vienna conference (in English):
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THE COMPLETE PICTURE: Click on the image to view a thematic webpage devoted to issues of religious tolerance in RFE/RL's broadcast region and around the globe.