Afghan judge says Christian convert case is flawed

The judge presiding over the case of an Afghan man who could face the death penalty for converting to Christianity said yesterday the case was flawed and would be sent back to prosecutors.

The row over the man, Abdur Rahman, 40, jailed this month for abandoning Islam, threatens to create a rift between Afghanistan and the US and other Western backers who have been calling for the man's release.

"The case, because of some technical as well as legal flaws and shortcomings, has been referred back to the prosecutor's office," the judge, Ansarullah Mawlavizada, said.

He declined to elaborate or say if the review would delay the trial, which had been due to begin in coming days.

A prosecutor said Mr Rahman's mental state would be examined today following suggestions that he may be mentally unstable. Mr Rahman, detained this month for converting to Christianity, told an Italian newspaper from his Kabul jail cell that he was ready to die for his new faith.

The government is trying to satisfy Western demands for the man's release, while not angering powerful conservatives at home who have demanded a trial and death sentence under Islamic law.