Fahim’s testimony was too detailed and unclear. He was not answering the Judges question: When did your conversion to Christianity begin?
Fahim told his story to the judge:
At the age of 6..... I was beaten for not understanding the Koran. I learned over time how to read Arabic with the other boys and yet the meaning was not explained. The K…. school was during the week, and the tests on the weekends. As I grew older I began to question why the Mula’s (K…… teachers) were so strong on getting young boys into the Holy War?
One day I told my best friend about this. He gave me a book and said, this book is very dangerous,…. it can cost you your life.
I took it home and began to read in it for two days, but didn’t understand many things. Why does God have a son? The Mula’s told me God has no family. I have no one to explain this book to me. I decided to go to the Mula to get understanding. The Mula saw the book and heard my question about God having a son. He began to beat me. He threw me out. I went home. About two hours later the police came, questioned me and the family. My mother and brothers and sisters didn’t know about the book. They arrested me, questioned and beat me extensively. When a friend of the family saw me, he asked for the family doctor. The doctor told the police that if I had internal bleeding I would probably die. They took me to the hospital. The doctor requested that my hands be freed. I woke up in the middle of the night, used the bed covers, and made an escaped through the window.
My understanding in the court room:
Fahim’s lawyer looks at me and I realized that Fahim was not answering the Judges question. I realized I could not leave Fahim and the court room to make my next appointment. I wrote my mentor trainer, and close friend, to please excuse me and to pray for the situation.
The judge asked: I still would like to know when the conversion to Christianity began?
Fahim continued. Thru the beatings I realized the book I had read was Christian. This began my long journey. With the help of my uncle I was able to get to Europe. At certain times I reflected on the fact that God said he had a son. At one point I decided to go to a church (catholic), but didn’t understand because the service was in German.
I stayed with my sister in Vienna, and one day a friend of the family came over. I felt I could trust him. I asked him if he knew of a Christian church in Persian. He told me he knows a Persian Christian. I should call him.
That man invited me to a church. I felt so welcomed and accepted there so I began to come every Sunday. I also attended some Bible studies. I got a Bible in my language and began to read it again. After about a year I understood enough to be baptized.
My observations: Fahim told the judge and everyone in the court room that he often reflected on God having a son, and gave that son to die for our sins.
The judge ask Fahim, if you are sent back to Afghanistan what will you do?
Fahim replied, Jesus said we should not hide our light under a plate. The Judge and Fahim’s lawyer look puzzled, and then look at me. I told them that Luther translated that phrase” don’t hide your light under a bushel”. They understood.
Fahim continued. Jesus said if you deny me, I will deny you before the Father.
The judge asks Fahim to continue with his story.
Fahim continued. One day I found out my mother was very sick. I asked for prayer and some at the church prayed for my mother. I called my mother and one of the relatives told me she is no longer ill.
Russ observers: I could feel the Spirit in me tingling in my body as Fahim told the court this. I prayed that all those in the court room would also feel God’s presence.
Fahim mentioned several times that Jesus had died for our sins and rose again.
The judge asked the asylum police if they had any further questions. Their questions were easily answered. Then the judge had another question: Was it the same Mula that beat you consistently as a child because you did not understand the Koran, the same one that beat you for having a Bible? Fahim replied, yes. Then why would you go to him to ask him about a book that your friend told you, could cost you your life?
Fahim replied, we were taught that the Mula had answers to questions like this. My father had died the year before, so I had no one to ask about God having a son. I didn’t know the book I was reading was christian.
The judge questioned further: What does your mother think? Does she know you have converted? Yes I told her, and she got very angry with me and didn’t talk to me for a month and a half. When my uncle, who helped me get out of Afghanistan, found out he screamed at me. Since then my mother has been spit in the face by the neighbors several times because of what I did. Now my mother says, I can choose whatever religion I want, but she is not going to change.
Will you continue going to church if you get asylum?
Fahim replies, God sent his Son to die for my sins. He has saved me and of course I will continue to go to church.
The judge told the lawyer there is no longer any need for a verifying witness from the church. He is convinced Fahim’s conversion is real.
