By Stockton

Afghans Protest Decision on Christian

KABUL, Afghanistan - Hundreds of people protested in
Afghanistan on Monday against a court's decision to drop a case against a man who converted from Islam to Christianity, while an official said discussions were underway to determine when he would be released.

Officials said the case was dropped Sunday partially because of concerns that Abdul Rahman is mentally unfit to face trial. The move also followed strong pressure from Western governments.

"Clearly," said one Afghani official, "Mr. Rahman is crazy. By converting to Christianity, he has given up all the good holidays. We do not get one Christian holiday off from work. That's a deranged man."

Moderates have also joined in the debate, calling "beheading" cruel and inhuman punishment for a convert. They see lethal injection as far more in line with the western-style Democracy that the Bush administration has been trying to build. "If it's good enough for Texas, it's good enough for Kabul," said one moderate.

Traditionalists call for a good, old-fashioned stoning.

"We've lost the old ways," said Ifn Abzid. "When I was a child, a stoning brought the whole community together. Now, with beheadings, torture, Jihads and the kid's soccer practice, you never have time to get together with your neighbors."