U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, Chairman of the subcommittee that oversees global human rights, praised the passage of House Resolution 736, which called for religious freedom in Afghanistan.

    The House passage of the resolution, authored by Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN), comes after Abdul Rahman, an Afghan citizen who was arrested and faced the death penalty in Kabul after his family accused him of converting from Islam to Christianity. 

    “Though I was thankful that Abdul Rahman was freed, his case confirmed that democratic rights and freedoms, particularly those related to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion are still under threat in Afghanistan,” said Smith. “Afghanistan must abide by its international human rights obligations to protect the rights its citizens to believe and worship as they choose."

    Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, of which Afghanistan is a party, specifies that no one will be coerced in such a way that his freedom to have or to adopt a religion of his choice will be impaired.

H. Res 736:

• Strongly condemns the enforcement of laws against apostasy.
• Requests that the President continue to work with the Government of Afghanistan to establish further protections for religious minorities – including converts to minority religions – and to enhance human rights protections in Afghanistan.
• Calls upon the Government of Afghanistan, and especially President Hamid Karzai, to continue to abide by its own laws and its international human rights treaty obligations, protecting Afghan citizens who have converted or plan to convert to other religions from prosecution.

    “It is essential for the future of Afghanistan that President Karzai understands that right of all Afghanis to freedom of religion is fully protected,” said Smith.