Abdul Rahman, the Afghan man who converted from Islam to Christianity 16 years ago, is shown being interviewed in Kabul on March 16, 2006 in this image taken from TV, Sunday, March 26, 2006. Rahman, who faced a possible death sentence for converting from Islam to Christianity, was freed after a court dismissed the case against him, citing a lack of evidence.
Abdul Rahman, the Afghan man who converted from Islam to Christianity, shown during an interview in Kabul in this image from TV aired on Sunday, March 26, 2006. The court case against Rahman, who faced a possible death sentence for converting, was dismissed and Rahman, 41, was flown to Italy Wednesday, March 29, 2006 after the Italian government granted him asylum after Muslim clerics called for his death.
Afghanistan Parliamentary Speaker Yunus Qanooni gestures during a press conference in Kabul Wednesday, March, 29, 2006. Afghanistan's parliament had demanded that authorities not let a Christian convert out of the country. Abdul Rahman was released from prison Monday after a court dropped its case against him for alleged apostasy because of a lack of evidence and suspicions he may be mentally ill.
Afghan men pray at a mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan Sunday, March 26, 2006. Abdul Rahman was being prosecuted under Afghanistan's Islamic laws for converting from Islam to Christianity 16 years ago while working as a medical aid worker for an international Christian group helping Afghan refugees in Pakistan. A court later dismissed the case.
Zamara Ameri, the prosecutor in Abdul Rahman's case, listens to a question from the media in Kabul, Afghanistan on Sunday, March 26, 2006. Abdul Rahman was being prosecuted under Afghanistan's Islamic laws for converting from Islam to Christianity 16 years ago while working as a medical aid worker for an international Christian group helping Afghan refugees in Pakistan. A court later dropped the case.
Afghan men pray outside the Pul-e-khashti mosque in Kabul. Saturday, March 25, 2006. Under mounting foreign pressure, President Hamid Karzai had struggled to find a way to free Abdul Rahman, a 41-year-old Afghan man who converted from Islam to Christianity, without angering powerful Muslim clerics who have called for him to be killed
An Afghan man walks in front of Shah-e-Doshamshera mosque in Kabul Saturday, March 25, 2006.
An Afghan woman walks in front of Shah-e-Doshamshera mosque in Kabul Saturday, March 25, 2006.
Afghans listen to a Muslim cleric during a meeting in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, March 24, 2006. At Friday prayers, Muslim clerics in Afghanistan strongly supported prosecution of Abdul Rahman, who was on trial for converting to Christianity and, under Afghan and Islamic law, could be executed.
An Afghan man prays outside Pul-e-khashti mosque in Kabul, Thursday, March 23, 2006. Senior Muslim clerics said that an Afghan man, Abdul Rahman, who converted from Islam to Christianity should be put to death even if a court decided to free him because he is suspected of being mentally unfit to face trial.
Afghan men pray outside Pul-e-khashti mosque in Kabul, Thursday, March 23, 2006. Senior Muslim clerics had said that an Afghan man, Abdul Rahman, who converted from Islam to Christianity should be put to death even if a court decided to free him because he is suspected of being mentally unfit to face trial.
Local Afghans listen to a Muslim cleric during a meeting in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, March 24, 2006. Senior clerics in the Afghan capital had voiced strong support for the prosecution of Rahman, a 41-year-old former medical aid worker, who faced the death penalty under Afghanistan's Islamic laws for becoming a Christian.