Afghan Convert 'Leaves For Italy'

BBC News

March 29, 2006

An Afghan man who escaped a possible death sentence for becoming a Christian has left for Italy where he has been granted asylum, Italian officials say. Abdul Rahman is expected to arrive in Italy within hours.

"He is expected in Italy tonight. He is certainly not here," an Italian embassy official in Kabul told the BBC.

Afghan MPs had earlier demanded Mr Rahman stay in the country. He was freed from jail on Monday after being deemed mentally unfit to stand trial.

Mr Rahman, who had been charged with rejecting Islam, had been held at a secret location since his release from Kabul's high security Pul-e-Charki prison.

Italy's cabinet met on Wednesday and approved Mr Rahman's asylum request.

"The decision has been taken. The matter has been resolved," Welfare Minister Roberto Maroni told reporters after the meeting.

Applications for political asylum in Italy normally take months to process, but Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and several colleagues had said previously they favoured a quick decision in Mr Rahman's favour, says the BBC's David Willey in Rome.

More:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4856748.stm