Subject: Afghan head orders death for
religious conversion
KABUL, Jan 8 (Reuters) - The supreme leader of Afghanistan's ruling Taleban
movement warned on Monday that any Afghan converting to Christianity or
promoting other religions would be executed.
In his decree, Mullah Mohammad Omar also warned book sellers they would face
five years in prison if they sell material insulting Islam or promoting
"wrong beliefs."
He warned that enemies of Islam based in Afghanistan and outside -- such as
Pakistan -- were trying to seduce Muslims through money and other incentives
to convert to Christianity or Judaism.
"Therefore, all countrymen are seriously notified that any Muslim Afghan
will
be sentenced to death if he accepts Christianity and has converted to this
nullified religion or is seen inviting people to Christianity and Judiasm as
well as propagating and distributing their books," he said.
In his decree, read to Reuters by a Taleban official, Omar said without
elaborating that some people in the guise of Muslims want to root out Islam
worldwide.
Abdul Hai Mutmaen, a top Taleban spokesman, said the decree was issued after
reports some foreigners inside Afghanistan and abroad were actively seeking
converts. He said they might belong to foreign aid groups based in
Afghanistan and conversion efforts began a long time ago.
"This is for sure that there are foreign individuals in some parts of the
country and outside who do this secretly," Mutmaen told Reuters.
The Taleban swept to power more than four years ago and hold most of the
country where it intends to build the world's purist Islamic regime.
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