Dave Thompson MSP

HIGHLANDS and Islands MSP Dave Thompson, has added his name to a Scottish Parliamentary motion which condemns the persecution of Christians in Afghanistan.

The motion, from fellow Nationalist Cunninghame North MSP Kenny Gibson, was prompted by the a threat by the authorities in Afghanistan to execute Said Musa, a disabled Red Cross worker, who is said to have angered senior figures by converting from Islam to Christianity.

The 45-year-old Afghan national has worked as a physiotherapist with the Red Cross for 15 years and was arrested in May last year after Afghani authorities became aware that he had converted to Christianity eight years earlier.

Mr Thompson said he was appalled to hear that Christians were being maltreated in Afghanistan and that the Afghan authorities had sentenced Said Musa to death.

"Persecution of any group is to be abhorred and I don’t think we are in Afghanistan to assist with such persecution. The Afghan government must be told in no uncertain terms that they must respect human rights and that the persecution of Christians, or any other group, is unacceptable" Mr Thompson said.

Note:

S3M-07903 Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (Scottish National Party): Persecution of Afghan Christians— That the Parliament condemns the decision of the Karzai regime in Afghanistan for imprisoning and allegedly torturing and threatening to hang disabled Red Cross aid worker and physiotherapist Said Musa for converting from Islam to Christianity; is concerned at what it sees as the increasing intolerance toward and ill treatment of Christians in Afghanistan and the regime's lethal approach to apostasy, and believes it shameful that the Afghan regime appears to rely on Christian troops from western nations to preserve its security while persecuting its own Christian citizens.