Abdul Rahman, an Afghan man who faced death by hanging for converting from Islam to Christianity, has been granted asylum in Italy.

Roberto Maroni, the Italian Labour Minister, said that Mr Rahman would would arrive in Italy "soon", possibly today.

"The decision [of the Cabinet] has been made," he told reporters. "The case is resolved."

Gianfranco Fini, the Foreign Minister, raised the possibility of Italy providing refuge to the 41-year-old convert yesterday. It was unanimously agreed at a Cabinet meeting this afternoon.

Silvio Berlusconi, the Prime Minister, said that Italy would be happy to give asylum to Rahman. “I say that we are very glad to be able to welcome someone who has been so courageous,” Mr Berlusconi told Associated Press Television News.

Mr Rahman was arrested in Afghanistan earlier this month under Islamic (Sharia) law, which said that he should be sentenced to death for apostasy after converting to Christianity 14 years ago. He had returned to Afghanistan to be reunited with his two daughters in 2002 after nine years living in Germany.

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.

He was released from prison on Monday after heavy pressure from the international community which is bankrolling the government. He has been held at a secret location amid protests demanding his execution.

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