An Afghan who faced the death penalty for converting to Christianity from Islam has been freed in Kabul, according to the Afghan Ministry of Justice.

Abdul Rahman, 41, was arrested for offending Islam about two weeks ago under Islamic law (Sharia), on which the country's draft constitution is partly based, and faced death by hanging.

His imprisonment attracted pleas from several Western allies of Afghanistan, which called for the country's new government to respect the freedom of religion. The case was described by human rights observers as a clash of Afghanistan's commitments to Islamic government and its international human rights obligations.

The United Nations, which has been negotiating with President Hamid Karzai over the the case, said yesterday that it was likely Mr Rahman would be offered asylum by one of the counties that interceded on his behalf.

Over the weekend, Mr Rahman underwent tests to assess his mental capacity to face trial and this morning, he was set free.

"I can confirm that he was released," said Sarwar Danish, the Afghan Justice Minister. "He is not in detention. I do not know if he is with his family or where, but he has been acquitted."

Earlier, another senior judicial official said Mr Rahman had been taken to a medical facility for a further round of psychiatric tests.

His location is likely to remain secret after around 1,000 people protested yesterday, calling for his execution after rumours circulated that he was on the point of release. Further demonstrations are expected today and the Taleban has issued a fatwa, saying Mr Rahman must be killed for his apostasy.

"We understand the sensitivity of the situation and urge everyone to remain calm and resist efforts to exploit the situation," said a US Embassy spokesman who added that arrangements regarding Mr Rahman’s future were being handled privately.

Mr Rahman converted to Christianity 14 years ago when he began working for an international Christian charity in northern Pakistan. He worked Peshawar for four years before moving and living in Germany for nine years. He returned to Afghanistan in 2002 to be reunited with his two daughters, now aged 13 and 14.

But his parents refused to welcome him back, saying that he had become violent. In the course of a police investigation, he was denounced as a convert. Mr Rahman was promptly arrested, and found to possess a Bible.

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