2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Troubled by Afghan Christian Facing D

By Scott Stearns
White House
22 March 2006

President Bush  
  
President Bush says he is deeply troubled by the case of an Afghan man who could be put to death for converting from Islam to Christianity. Mr. Bush says he will try and resolve the issue diplomatically.

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President Bush says he looks forward to talking with authorities in Kabul about the case of Abdul Rahman, 41, who under the country's Islamic law, could be executed if he refuses to return to the Islamic faith.
 
"We have got influence in Afghanistan and we are going to use it to remind them that there are universal values," said Mr. Bush.  "It is deeply troubling that a country we helped liberate¹ would hold a person to account, because they chose a particular religion over another."

The president says he expects Afghanistan will honor what he calls the universal principle of freedom and believes the problem can be solved by working closely with Afghan officials.

Asked about the issue during a question and answer session in the state of West Virginia, Mr. Bush said he shares the concerns that many Americans have about the case.
 
 
Abdul Rahman
  
The United Nations has joined the United States, Canada, Germany, and Italy in expressing concern about Rahman.

Afghan Supreme² Court officials say he will be examined to determine if he is mentally fit to stand trial. If he is not, they say the case may be dropped.

Rahman was arrested two weeks ago after his parents told the police about his conversion³ to Christianity.  Under Afghan law, if he does not revert⁴ to Islam before a second court appearance sometime in the next two months, he could receive the death penalty.

1 liberate   

v.解放，使获得自由，释出，放出；vt.解放，使获自由

参考例句：

• They did their best to liberate slaves.他们尽最大能力去解放奴隶。
• This will liberate him from economic worry.这将消除他经济上的忧虑。

2 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

3 conversion   

n.转化，转换，转变

参考例句：

• He underwent quite a conversion.他彻底变了。
• Waste conversion is a part of the production process.废物处理是生产过程的一个组成部分。

4 revert   

v.恢复，复归，回到

参考例句：

• Let us revert to the earlier part of the chapter.让我们回到本章的前面部分。
• Shall we revert to the matter we talked about yesterday?我们接着昨天谈过的问题谈，好吗？