The Afghan Parliament in session.

Member of Parliament: Execute Those Christians!

by Bob Unruh, WorldNetDaily

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - A member of parliament in Afghanistan has called for the public execution of Christians, sending many members of the faith into hiding over concern for their lives, according to a new report from International Christian Concern.

The organization said it had learned from Associated Free Press that Abdul Sattar Khawasi, deputy secretary for the lower house in the Afghan parliament, had called for the execution of those Afghanis who converted from Islam to Christianity.

The public call to violence came after a video was broadcast by Noorin TV, an Afghan television network, that showed Christian men being baptized and praying in Farsi.

According to the ICC report, Khawasi said, "Those Afghans that appeared in this video film should be executed in public, the house should order the attorney general and the NDS (the state police intelligence agency) to arrest these Afghans and execute them."

Aidan Clay, an ICC official who deals with issues in the Middle said, called it "absolutely appalling that the execution of Christians would be promoted on the floor of the Afghan parliament.

"Khawasi's statement sounded a whole lot like the tyrannical manifesto of the Taliban, not that of a US ally," he said. "American lives are being lost fighting terrorism and defending freedom in Afghanistan – yet Christians are being oppressed within Afghan borders. This comes after billions of US dollars have been invested in the war effort, and millions more have been given in aid."

He said the US government needs to step up to make certain that religious freedoms are protected for all Afghans.

"Intervention is not a choice, but a responsibility, as Afghan policies reflect the US government's ability and commitment to secure a stable government in Afghanistan," he said.

The report said the broadcast about the Christians also triggered a protest by students at the University of Kabul, where crowds estimated in the hundreds shouted death threats and demanded the expulsion of Christian foreigners accused of proselytizing.

The report said because of the conflict, officials with Church World Service from the United States and Church Aid from Norway have suspended their operations for the time being.

"ICC sources within Afghanistan have reported that many national Christians are in hiding, fearful of execution. Under government pressure during investigations, some Afghans have reportedly revealed names and locations of Christian converts," the ICC report said.