A monitor of Christian persecution says two more Afghan believers have been jailed in the wake of the case of Abdul Rahman, a convert to Christianity who faced the death penalty under the nation's Shariah law.

According to Compass Direct, two other Afghan Christians were jailed in the past few days.

"Because of the sensitive situation, local sources requested that the location of the jailed converts be withheld," the organization said.

Compass Direct also reports that this past weekend, one young Afghan convert to Christianity was severely beaten outside his home by a group of six men who eventually knocked him unconscious with a hard blow to his temple. He woke up in the hospital two hours later, but later was discharged.

"Our brother remains steadfast, despite the ostracism and beatings," one of his friends is reported to have said.

Today, a United Nations spokesman said Rahman had applied for asylum.

"Mr. Rahman has asked for asylum outside Afghanistan," U.N. spokesman Adrian Edwards told the Associated Press. "We expect this will be provided by one of the countries interested in a peaceful solution to this case."

As WorldNetDaily reported, Charges against Rahman were dropped yesterday with the court citing a lack of evidence. Last week, pressure came to bear on Afghanistan from Western nations decrying the fact that under Islamic Shariah law Rahman could be executed for converting from Islam to Christianity.

Reuters reported today the U.S. State Department announced Rahman will be released from custody.

"He will be released," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters. "I understand now that the details of his release and any potential onward travel are being handled as a private matter."

Meanwhile, hundreds of people in Afghanistan protested today against the court's decision to drop the charges. Protesters chanted "Death to Bush!" and other anti-Western slogans, while the police stood guard, the AP reported.

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