Rep. Tom Lantos, D-Calif.

Despite Afghanistan's dismissal of the case against a convert to Christianity who faced the death penalty for leaving Islam, a U.S. congressman is blasting the Asian country for its ancient system of laws, and says he will not let the matter rest.

"This is clearly not the end of the story," Rep. Tom Lantos, D-Calif., told Fox News today. "The dots spell out Islamic fanaticism. ... We will not let this matter rest."

Under mounting pressure from countries including the United States to free Abdul Rahman, officials cited a lack of evidence in their decision to drop the case.

Even with the dismissal, Lantos, a U.S. citizen who immigrated from Hungary and now serves on the House's International Relations Committee, lambasted Afghanistan for continuing its system of Sharia (Islamic) law, which has been in practice since the 7th century.

"It's absolutely unacceptable, and I made it very clear to [Afghan] President Karzai and the foreign minister in very plain English that this has to stop, not as an individual case, but as a generic solution. We simply will not put up with this," Lantos said.

He continued: "President Karzai has a tremendous opportunity at the moment because he's now naming new members to the supreme court, and it's absolutely critical that every single member he names be a civilized, moderate individual who understands that having death sentences passed on people who convert to Christianity is not acceptable in the 21st century, particularly not by a country which has been liberated by soldiers of the United States and other NATO countries, most of whom are Christian."

Special offers:

The Life and Religion of Mohammed: Learn the ugly truth about the founder of the world's most violent religion

Shock a Muslim – with the truth!

Criminalizing Christianity: How America's founding religion is becoming illegal

Stay informed! Sign up for a free subscription to The Voice of the Martyrs' newsletter now

NOTE: When shopping in WND's online store you have the option of paying with either a credit card or a check.

If you wish to order by phone, call our toll-free order line at 1-800-4WND-COM (1-800-496-3266).

Previous stories:

Charges dropped against Christian

Afghan judge won't give in to pressure

Kabul may drop case, citing convert's depression

Afghan prosecutors: Christian may be 'mad'

U.S. cautiously backs Afghan Christian

Man faces death penalty for becoming Christian