|TOP|The Afghan Christian convert who was granted asylum in Italy following a possible death sentence for apostasy has thanked the Italian government and the Pope Thursday for spearheading the international campaign that secured his release.

Abdul Rahman was the 40-year-old convert to Christianity at the centre of a highly controversial court case that could have seen him sentenced to death for his conversion from Islam under Sharia law.

In a television interview recorded at a police station Thursday, Rahman explained why he decided to become a Christian.

In broken English he said: "Because I read the Bible and I became convinced of the goodness of this religion.”
|AD|Pope Benedict XVI appealed for clemency to be granted to the convert and expressed his solidarity with all persecuted Christians around the world.

He added: "I thank the Pope, the Italian government and all those who have been involved in my case. I am happy to be here."

Rahman also said in the interview that he felt “persecuted” in his country and that he feared for his family’s safety, reports Reuters.

In reports in the Italian media, Rahman said he never wanted to return to Afghanistan.

Rahman accepted the offer from Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of asylum over fears for his life and arrived in Italy Wednesday hours after the Afghan parliament condemned his release and said he should not be allowed to leave the country.

Earlier in the month, as the controversial court case continued over Rahman’s conversion to Christianity, Berlusconi commended the convert for his “great courage”. The exact whereabouts of Rahman are being kept secret.

Rahman converted to Christianity while working for an aid group helping Afghan refugees in Pakistan 15 years ago.