Afghan Christian convert arrives in Italy

An Afghan Christian convert who had faced the death penalty for abandoning Islam arrived in Italy and was granted asylum, Italy said yesterday.

Abdur Rahman, 40, was jailed this month for converting to Christianity and could have faced trial under Islamic sharia law that stipulates death as punishment for apostasy.

He was freed from prison on Tuesday after pressure from Western states whose troops helped bring the Afghan government to power.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said he had been granted asylum in Italy.

"He is already here... He is currently being looked after by the interior ministry," Mr Berlusconi told reporters in Rome.

Mr Berlusconi said the man's exact whereabouts were being kept secret. Italian news agency ANSA quoted unnamed sources who saw Mr Rahman in the past few hours as saying he was grateful and very happy to be in Italy.

News of Mr Rahman's departure from Afghanistan came hours after members of the Afghan parliament condemned his release and said he should not be allowed to leave the country.

Asked whether he feared a negative reaction from the Muslim world, Italian Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini said: "No, not particularly, also because Italy has always been committed to defending inalienable human rights, including one's freedom to believe in their own god."

Mr Rahman's jailing raised a storm of protest in the West, with Italy, Germany, the United States and Canada - all countries with troops in Afghanistan - leading calls for his religious freedom to be respected and for him to be released.

Pope Benedict also called for clemency. In Italy, politicians from all colours gave their backing to Mr Berlusconi's asylum offer, even though one member of the centre-left opposition accused him of "propaganda" came ahead of a general election on April 9-10.

In Afghanistan, however, many religious conservatives had demanded Mr Rahman be punished under Islamic law, with some warning of rebellion if the government gave in to Western pressure and released him.

Analysts say President Hamid Karzai might still face anger at home and his rivals could try to take advantage of the row.

The lower house of parliament held an unscheduled debate on the case and Mr Rahman's release was widely criticised.

"The release of Abdur Rahman was contrary to the existing laws of Afghanistan," Yunus Qanuni, president of the lower house of parliament, told the assembly, before Italy's asylum offer and Mr Rahman's departure had been confirmed.

"Abdur Rahman should not flee and should not be allowed to leave Afghanistan."

Mr Rahman became a Christian while working for an aid group helping Afghan refugees in Pakistan 15 years ago. He later lived in Germany before returning to Afghanistan.