3:18pm UK, Sunday March 19, 2006

An Afghan man is facing the death penalty for becoming a Christian.

Abdul Rahman was arrested last month after his family went to the police and accused him of converting from Islam.

180 church cross

Prosecuters are calling for the death penalty

He has gone on trial for rejecting Islam - an offence punishable by death under Shariah law.

During the hearing, the defendant allegedly confessed that he converted from Islam to Christianity 16-years-ago.

He had been working as a medical aid worker for Afghan refugees in neighbouring Pakistan.

The judge said: "We are not against any particular religion in the world.

"But in Afghanistan, this sort of thing is against the law.

"It is an attack on Islam. The prosecutor is asking for the death penalty."