Germany is following with particular attention the affair of the Afghan sentenced to death for having been converted to Christianity. For Abdul Rahman was converted during his period of residence in Germany. In the Frankfurter Rundschau (22/3), Stephan Hebel writes: “The Afghan Abdul Rahman risks becoming, at the price of his life, the symbol of the contradictions of Islamic societies, even in those considered “liberated” on the basis of Western concepts. […] In spite of all the fine words, the case… demonstrates that a war, however positive it was in eliminating the Taleban regime, cannot eliminate the contradictions of a society like that in Afghanistan. Not even the billions being pumped into the country by the countries of the West can do so. To foster the positive effects of a democratic and secularised system, an era of enlightenment – and of prosperity – is needed if the religious fanatics are to be prevented from continuing to enlist the support of the disadvantaged. It is right that the Federal Government should now intervene as one of the funding nations. We can be sure that it will do so without this fuelling resentment against Islam, but in the serene certainty that democracy only functions if it respects, without subordinating itself to, religion”. And in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung , Wolfgang Lerch observes: “ The Rahman case has raised such a furore at the international level, at least among the friends and benefactors of the new Afghanistan, as to encourage the hope that President Karzai may find, together with jurists, a way to prevent the execution of Rahman.[…] In any case, as regards the freedom of religion in the sense defined by modern States and sanctioned by the Charter of Human Rights, the situation of Afghanistan continues to be as grim as it is elsewhere in the Islamic world, with very few exceptions “. The Spanish papers of 23 March have greeted with a mixture of hope and caution the announcement of a ceasefire by the Basque separatist organization ETA and concede a “margin of trust” – variously wide – to Spanish premier José Rodriguez Zapatero. “ An unprecedented opportunity” is the title of the editorial on the front page of “ El Pais“, and one “ it would be irresponsible not to seize“. “ The novelty consists not so much in the annunciation of a truce, as in the fact that it is proclaimed after a prolonged period, almost three years, without any fatal terrorist attacks“. The daily, close to the ruling Socialist party, urges the PP (the conservative People’s Party, in opposition) to work together with the government in entering into dialogue with the terrorists. According to “ Il Mundo“, on the other hand, it is inevitable to ask oneself “ in exchange for what” did the ETA announce its truce. “ A text and a context that inspire apprehension more than hope“, is the title of the daily’s editorial, which declares that “ peace does not imply the payment of a political price“. “ For the first time in thirty years there is a risk that those who represent the State are ready to make political concessions to ETA“. The daily “ABC” urges caution and recalls the two previous abortive ceasefire attempts in 1989 and 1999. The ABC, in its editorial with the unambiguous title “ Without any political price“, maintains the need to “ grant to the Spanish government a wide margin of trust for the management of the new situation“, but this should be conditional on the government obtaining the disarmament of the ETA “ without this decision presupposing any quid pro quo“. The Basque daily “ Gara” , close to separatist circles, headlines its editorial “ The time for responsibility and facts” and adds: “ Madrid and Paris have replied with caution, but are called to give a concrete demonstration of their real good will“. Media coverage in France is concentrated on the continuing student demonstrations against the CPE, the contract for entry into the world of work that has aroused the anger of university and secondary school students, and of the trade unions that are threatening a general strike. Dominique Gerbaud writes as follows in the French Catholic daily “ La Croix“: “ The question is no longer to know whether Dominique de Villepin will be able to emerge from the unrest without losing face, but whether he will be able to find a way of not disappointing either side“. One thing is certain – says Gerbaud -: given the sheer determination of the protests, the CPE “ can no longer be imposed in its present form“. But “ how?“. “ The pure and simple renunciation of the CPE – reflects Gerbaud – would risk reinforcing the rancour of the right“. So a good dose of “ precaution” is needed. And for that we need “ wise men and women capable of recreating a climate of trust. For trust is the quality we most lack“.
