Afghan Christian imprisoned; send letters

Said Musa is currently
imprisoned in Kabul.

Release International is reporting that Said Musa (Sayed Mossa in some reports), an Afghan citizen and 15-year employee of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Kabul, Afghanistan, was arrested on May 31, 2010, for converting to Christianity from Islam. His trial, which was to take place on November 21, has been postponed.

Said was arrested after video footage, showing Afghan Christians being baptised and participating in prayer gatherings, was televised nationally. The broadcast triggered protests throughout the country along with calls to execute Christians. Since his arrest, Said has been illegally imprisoned, tortured, abused and threatened with death because of his Christian faith.

A father of six and an amputee with a prosthetic leg, Said wrote in a letter from Oullayat prison in Kabul that he had been beaten, forcibly deprived of sleep and sexually abused by prisoners. He added that Afghan judicial officers granted him no protection and, at times, encouraged the abuse.

Afghanistan is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 18 states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”

VOM encourages you, along with Release International, to write a letter of concern to Afghan officials.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai
Email: hussain.rahimi@gmail.com

His Excellency Jawed Ludin
Ambassador of Afghanistan in Canada
Embassy of Afghanistan in Canada
240 Argyle Ave.
Ottawa, ON K2P 1B9
Phone: 613-563-4223, ext 226

Download a letter-writing guide (includes Prisoners List) here.

Please pray for Said's release. Pray that God will strengthen him and his family during this difficult time. Pray that God will touch the hearts of Afghan officials who are overseeing Said's case.