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Benedict Urges Mercy for Afghan Convert

Pope Benedict XVI is urging Afghan authorities to drop the case against a man who faces execution for converting to Christianity. The Vatican has sent a letter to the president of Afghanistan. The pope said dropping the charges against Abdul Rahman would help foster "understanding and respect among the world`s different religions and cultures."

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has been under mounting pressure from foreign leaders to free Rahman. He`s being prosecuted under Afghanistan`s Islamic laws for converting to Christianity 16 years ago. Top officials in Afghanistan have said Rahman will be released soon, even though clerics have questioned Karzai`s authority.

Clerics have noted that the Koran calls for death against those who leave Islam, and have told Karzai and his Western backers to "back off" and let Afghan justice play itself out (meaning just sit and watch Rahman be executed). There is a contradiction, though, in that the post-Taliban Afghan constitution calls for international law to be respected as well as Islam to be the guidepost for leaders.