Media Quiet on Plight of Afghan Convert

Example of Media Bias:

A terrible drama is unfolding in Afghanistan: There are reports that Said Musa, [an Afghan convert to Christianity] will soon be executed for the ‘crime’ of choosing to become a Christian. (For background, see here.)

Musa was one of about 25 Christians arrested on May 31, 2010, after a …TV program showed video of a worship service held by indigenous Afghan Christians; he was arrested as he attempted to seek asylum at the German embassy. He converted to Christianity eight years ago, is the father of six young children, had a leg amputated after he stepped on a landmine while serving in the Afghan Army, and now has a prosthetic leg. His oldest child is eight and one is disabled (she cannot speak). He worked for the Red Cross/Red Crescent as an adviser to other amputees.

Musa was forced to appear before a judge without any legal counsel and without knowledge of the charges against him. “Nobody [wanted to be my] defender before the court. When I said ‘I am a Christian man,’ he [a potential lawyer] immediately spat on me and abused me and mocked me. . . . I am alone between 400 [people with] terrible values in the jail, like a sheep.” He has been beaten, mocked, and subjected to sleep deprivation and [other physical] abuse while in prison. No Afghan lawyer will defend him and authorities denied him access to a foreign lawyer.  ………

In a letter smuggled to the West, he said…”Please, please…help me.”

Newspapers in the U.K. and elsewhere in Europe have reported the story, but with, the exception of the Wall Street Journal and [National Review], American

But…searches of the Nexis database for “Said Musa”, “Sayeed Mussa” or even “Afghanistan” and “convert” show no coverage by network television or major newspapers as of Feb. 22, 2011.]

The U.S. government – reportedly including Secretary of State Clinton – and other governments have pushed for his release, but to no avail.

(Read the original commentary with background links included at nationalreview.com/corner/260050/america-quiet-execution-afghan-christian-said-musa-paul-marshall.)