KABUL, March 26: An Afghan court on Sunday dropped its case against a Christian who faces execution for converting from Islam, referring the matter to Kabul’s top prosecutor for a final decision, an official said. The Supreme Court had decided not to pursue its case against Abdul Rahman after hearing testimony that he was mentally disturbed, court spokesman Wakil Omari told AFP.

The attorney general’s office in the capital would now decide if the case against Abdul Rahman, 41, should be pursued or dropped. Its investigation was likely to include medical tests, Mr Omari said.

“The attorney general has the authority to either send back the case to this or any court or even can decide” to release him, Mr Omari said.

Officials said at the weekend that Rahman was likely to be released within a few days.

The Supreme Court last week said that Abdul Rahman must revert to Islam or face death according to Sharia Islamic law on which the country’s constitution is partly based.

He was arrested two weeks ago after his parents went to the authorities, reportedly following a family dispute.

“According to his relatives, his cousin Abdul Munir ... and his daughter, Maria, he’s not mentally fit. He’s mad,” Mr Omari said.

“He himself has said that he hears strange voices in his head. His files have been sent back to the attorney general for further investigations.”

Abdul Rahman, who is being held in a maximum security jail on the outskirts of Kabul, converted 16 years ago in Pakistan.—AFP

Our Washington correspondent adds: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Sunday that America needed to respect the sovereignty of Afghanistan, which she called a “young democracy”.

Secretary Rice said she did not have ‘independent confirmation’ of the report that Mr Rahman had been released but she knew that the Afghan government was looking at the judicial case and was “working very hard to try and resolve it in a favourable manner.”

Asked if American Christian missionaries should be encouraged to go to Afghanistan, she said: “I think that Afghans are pleased to get the help that they can get” but added “we need to be respectful of Afghan sovereignty.” Ms Rice said Afghanistan was a ‘young democracy’ with a constitution that’s in accordance with the modern age but they’re going to have ‘difficulties and conflicts’ while enforcing their constitution.