Afghan Christian to face judge Sunday - UPDATE

 Said Musa Trial postponed until next week.

BosNewsLife reports today (Tuesday, November 23rd) that Afghanistan has postponed the trial of  Said Musa.

Said Musa, 45, was to appear without a lawyer Sunday, November 21, in front of a court where a judge was expected to use 'sharia', the word for Islamic law, to reach a verdict.

Officials suggested that the trial was delayed to give the court more time to study the case amid international concerns he may be executed under legislation that was introduced by the toppled Taliban regime.

More of the story here.

Also, the Jubileee Campaign and Advocates International seem to be hot on the case.

Good news.


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Compass Direct News (CDN) reports that an Afghan amputee in prison for his Christian faith since May will face a judge tomorrow (November 21, 2010) without legal representation or knowledge of the charges against him, according to local sources.

"Authorities arrested Said Musa, 45, on May 31, 2010, days after the local Noorin TV station broadcast images of Afghan Christians being baptized and worshiping," notes the CDN story.

"Though there were other arrests in May and June during the ensuing man-hunt against Christians, Musa is the only known Christian facing a court case."

Local Christians and religious freedom monitors have expressed concern that Musa may be made an example.

“The court case against Said Musa is unique,” said one religious freedom advocate, a Christian, under condition of anonymity. 

“Authorities usually don’t want court cases against Christians. This is high profile, as Musa has been on TV and was put under pressure to deny his faith publicly. This is a kind of a test case to see which law prevails in the country: sharia [Islamic law] or international agreements.”

Read more here.

Update: CNN reports that Musa could face trial as early as next week.