ROME, March 28: Italy is ready to admit an Afghan man who was freed after facing the death penalty in his country for converting to Christianity, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday. “Since Italy has been among the first countries to come out in support of the Afghan citizen Abdul Rahman, the deputy prime minister and foreign minister Gianfranco Fini will on Wednesday ask the cabinet to allow him to be hospitalised in Italy,” a ministry statement said.

“The minister (Fini) spoke this morning with the Italian ambassador to Kabul, who confirmed Rahman’s release during the night and his request to the international community for asylum,” it said.

Rahman, 41, was arrested in Afghanistan this month under Islamic law which says he should be sentenced to death for converting to Christianity.

But he was released from prison on Monday and was being held at a secret location.—AFP