Paul KeenanA parliamentarian in Kabul has called for those who convert from Islam to Christianity to be killed. Nazir Ahmad Hanafi made his proposal, he stressed, to halt the growing number of Christians in the country, which is blamed on the presence of American troops.
“The Afghan people continue to convert to Christianity. This is an affront to the Islamic law and, according to the Koran, they have to be executed,” Hanafi is reported to have told fellow politicians. His words led to a debate in parliament as to how best to counter the growth of Christian numbers, a growth which has come about despite persecution and suppression of the religion. The Christian advocacy group Open Doors lists Afghanistan third in its Watch List of 50 countries where Christians suffer most for their faith.