[JURIST] Abdul Rahman [Wikipedia profile], currently facing the death penalty [JURIST report] in Afghanistan [ JURIST news archive] for converting from Islam to Christianity, has appealed for asylum, UN spokesman Adrian Edwards said Monday. Earlier Monday, several hundred people responded to a judge's decision that the prosecution lacked sufficient evidence [JURIST report] to proceed with the case by protesting Rahman's potential release [JURIST report]. Rahman was scheduled to undergo a mental examination [Reuters report] Monday, in a move thought by some to be a quiet way for the prosecution to respond to political pressure from Western governments [JURIST report].

Edwards did not mention specific countries in the statement, saying only that "Mr. Rahman has asked for asylum outside Afghanistan ... We expect this will be provided by one of the countries interested in a peaceful solution to this case." AP has more.