Afghan convert fears execution

In a letter received by the US-based group, International Christian Concern, Shoaib Assadullah described awful conditions inside the Qasre Shahi prison, in Mazar-e-Sharif.

“Not only has my freedom been taken from me, but I am undergoing severe psychological pressure,” he wrote.

“Several times I have been attacked physically and threatened with death by fellow prisoners, especially Taliban and anti-government prisoners who are in jail.
“These assaults on my human dignity have affected me negatively, close to the point of death.”

Assadullah was arrested in October after giving a Bible to a man in Mazar-e-Sharif who later reported him to the authorities. He was told by a court to convert back to Islam again or else face execution. The ruling prompted outcry from the US and Italy especially, causing Afghanistan’s Attorney General to intervene in the case by suspending the trial.

In his letter, Assadullah admitted his fears over the outcome of his case.

“My case is supposed to be sent to the court shortly because the prosecutor has the right to hold a case only for 30 days,” he wrote.

“The court’s decision is most definitely going to be the death penalty for me, because the prosecutor has accused me under Clause 139 of the criminal code which says, ‘If the crime is not cited in the criminal code, then the case has to be referred to Islamic Sharia law.’”

Assadullah is one of two Christian converts known to be in prison at the moment on apostasy charges.

Said Musa, a former Red Cross worker, has been held behind bars since last May after he was identified as one of several Christian converts featured in a TV documentary.

Musa says he has been tortured and sexually abused by prison guards and inmates during his time in prison and has had no access to a lawyer or a fair trial.

ICC Regional Manager for the Middle East, Aidan Clay, called upon the US government to do more to secure the release of Assadullah and Musa.

“Months of backdoor diplomacy engaging Afghanistan’ government have resulted in little more than suspending Shoaib Assadullah’s trial and transferring Said Musa to a safer prison,” he said.

“This means one of two things: the US has minimal leverage over Karzai’s administration or the US is protecting Karzai from the repercussions he may face from extremist groups, like the Taliban, if he were to willingly let an apostate free.

“More than likely, the latter is true and politics have taken precedent over the American ideals of liberty while two Afghans rot in prison for exercising their right to choose their own faith.

“We urge the Obama administration to strengthen its efforts and not back down until Shoaib Assadullah and Said Musa are released.”