Muslims can be assholes, too.

Release Abdul Rahman. No, like, right now.

Rahman is being prosecuted under Afghanistan's Islamic laws for converting 16 years ago while working as a medical aid worker for an international Christian group helping Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

The case has put Karzai in an awkward position.

While the United States, Britain and other countries that prop up his government have demanded Rahman's release, the president would be reluctant to offend Islamic sensibilities at home or alienate religious conservatives who wield considerable power.

...The trial highlights a conflict of values between Afghanistan and its Western backers -- notably American Christians who cheered the administration of President George W. Bush when it toppled the oppressive Taliban regime in late 2001.

Bush expressed alarm about the case this week, but Christian lobby groups have urged him to do more.

...Afghanistan's constitution is based on sharia law, which states that any Muslim who rejects Islam should be sentenced to death, according to Ahmad Fahim Hakim, deputy chairman of the state-sponsored Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission.

But the constitution adds that "the state shall abide by the ... Universal Declaration of Human Rights." Article 18 of the declaration guarantees the freedom to worship and to "change" religion or belief.

And therefore there is nothing to debate. This isn't a matter of religion- the UDHR is quite clear. Karzai, this is the point that you demonstrate you have balls. And Bush-lovers- this is the point at which you lean on President Monkey-Man to do something and exert pressure for an actual justified reason, for a change. Incidentally, this will also help determine whether or not Hamid "President of Kabul" actually controls anything beyond his apartment, as Bush & co. have been parroting since they installed him, or, if as anyone with eyes has been pointing out, Karzai's "control" over the country is as fictional as Bush's election victory in 2000 (or Bill O'Reilly's sense of decency, or Ovadia Yosef's tact... fill in your favorite insult here.)

Edit: an update, sort of. Apparently Rahman's going to be released while authorities "review his case". Not terribly promising-sounding, but it's a start.