2006年VOA标准英语-Afghanistan Frees Christian Convert

By Benjamin Sand
Islamabad
28 March 2006

Abdur Rahman    
  
An Afghan man who faced possible execution for converting to Christianity has been released from prison in Kabul. Forty-one year-old Abdur Rahman is now reportedly seeking asylum² outside Afghanistan.

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Abdur Rahman's release ends a case that has provoked a storm of international protests and local unrest. He was jailed earlier this month, accused of rejecting Islam.

Afghanistan's constitution enshrines both principles of civil liberties and Islamic law, which stipulates³ death for any Muslim who abandons his religion.

Western leaders had urged Afghan President Hamid Karzai to intervene in Abdur Rahman's case and uphold the principles of religious freedom.

On Sunday, the presiding judge rejected the case and turned it over to the prosecuting⁴ attorneys for review.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Afghanistan's deputy attorney general Mohammad Eshaq Aloko confirmed prosecutors⁵ had issued a letter seeking Rahman's release from prison.

Aloko says questions were raised regarding Rahman's mental fitness to stand trial.

Rahman was released from prison late Monday night. His whereabouts are unclear but some Afghan officials claim he is still in state custody⁶ undergoing additional psychiatric tests. Deputy attorney general Aloko says Rahman may require medical treatment overseas.

Separately U.N. officials in Kabul have confirmed Rahman is seeking asylum outside of the country and efforts are underway to find a country to accept him. But the controversy⁷ surrounding the case is far from resolved.

Last week influential⁸ Afghan clerics warned the government against dropping the charges. Other Muslim leaders said local Afghans should kill Rahman themselves if he was freed.

Monday hundreds of people joined mass protests in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif.

The demonstrators called for Rahman's execution and accused Mr. Karzai of caving in to Western and Christian¹ demands.

The U.S. embassy in Kabul on Tuesday welcomed Rhaman's release and underscored the need for all sides to remain calm.

1 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

2 asylum   

n.避难所，庇护所，避难

参考例句：

• The people ask for political asylum.人们请求政治避难。
• Having sought asylum in the West for many years,they were eventually granted it.他们最终获得了在西方寻求多年的避难权。

3 stipulates   

n.（尤指在协议或建议中）规定，约定，讲明（条件等）( stipulate的名词复数 )；规定，明确要求v.（尤指在协议或建议中）规定，约定，讲明（条件等）( stipulate的第三人称单数 )；规定，明确要求

参考例句：

• The trade contract stipulates for the settlement of balances in RMB. 贸易合同规定余额以人民币结算。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The contract stipulates for the use of seasoned timber. 合同上订明用干透的木料。 来自辞典例句

4 prosecuting   

检举、告发某人( prosecute的现在分词 )； 对某人提起公诉； 继续从事（某事物）； 担任控方律师

参考例句：

• The witness was cross-examined by the prosecuting counsel. 证人接受控方律师的盘问。
• Every point made by the prosecuting attorney was telling. 检查官提出的每一点都是有力的。

5 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

6 custody   

n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留

参考例句：

• He spent a week in custody on remand awaiting sentence.等候判决期间他被还押候审一个星期。
• He was taken into custody immediately after the robbery.抢劫案发生后，他立即被押了起来。

7 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

8 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。