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1. What to do with Abdul Rahman?

Afghan officials are investigating the mental fitness of the man on trial for converting to Christianity. "The court said two of Mr. Rahman's relatives, a daughter and a cousin, had told the court that Mr. Rahman had mental problems," writes The New York Times. Also, officials are looking into whether Rahman acquired dual citizenship while living in Germany, Greece, or Belgium. But prosecutors are vowing to keep the trial on track. They have denied that Rahman will soon be released, despite media reports to the contrary. And Afghan clerics and other citizens are insisting that Rahman must be tried under Shari'ah law.

2. Pastor's wife sorry for murder

Mary Winkler has been charged with first-degree murder for the death of her husband, the pastor of Fourth Street Church of Christ in Selmer, Tennessee. According to a friend who visited her in jail, "She just said she was sorry and for me to write a note to the church saying that she was sorry for everything she had done." Police have not released Winkler's motive, but said it was not related to infidelity.

3. Senate makes exception for Good Samaritans

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a measure that would exempt social service groups from prosecution for assisting illegal immigrants. "The provision, if adopted by the full Senate, would set up a conflict with the House, which passed a bill late last year that would make any such assistance a crime," writes The New York Times. Demonstrations have run throughout the country recently. "More than a half-million demonstrators marched in Los Angeles on Saturday, as many as 300,000 in Chicago on March 10, and — in between — tens of thousands in Denver, Phoenix, Milwaukee and elsewhere." L.A. Archbishop Roger Mahoney wrote recently, "It is our Gospel mandate, in which Christ instructs us to clothe the naked, feed the poor and welcome the stranger."

4. CPTers head home

Briton Norman Kember and Canadians Jim Loney and Harmeet Sooden arrived home over the weekend. Kember, who is 74, said in a statement, "I do not believe that a lasting peace is achieved by armed force, but I pay tribute to their courage and thank those who played a part in my rescue." Rev. Bob Gardiner of Harrow Baptist Church in London said, "We were impressed by the sensitivity with which it (the British government) responded to our concerns about any possible use of force in any rescue attempt."

Abdul Rahman:

1. Afghans discuss when to release Christian | 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. (Associated Press)
   
   
2. Mental health evaluation may derail case against Afghan convert to Christianity | The case of an Afghan man facing the death penalty for converting to Christianity was returned to prosecutors on Sunday because of "investigative gaps," a move that will delay, if not scuttle, an investigation that has created an international uproar. (The New York Times)
   
   
3. Fate of Afghan Christian awaits prosecutors | The fate of a Afghan man who could face the death penalty for converting to Christianity, rested with prosecutors on Monday with expectation high the charges will be dropped and he will be released. (Reuters)
   
   
4. Afghan convert case hinges on mental check | A prosecutor responsible for a case against an Afghan man who could face the death penalty for converting to Christianitysaid on Monday the case against him depends on the result of a mental examination. (Reuters)
   
   

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March (Web-only) 2006, Vol. 50