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With Shariah law cited as the source of justice in most of the Islamic world, and new encroachments by the drastic religious rules into the West, a Christian ministry has launched a campaign to do away with punishment for apostasy, the act of leaving Islam for another religious faith.
The effort launched by the Barnabas Fund said in addition to those in other religions, there are brave Muslim voices already calling for the apostasy law to be abolished
“Although only Muslim leaders can make this happen, we as Christians can help the process, by speaking up for freedom of religion and belief and by encouraging others to do the same,” said Patrick Sookhdeo, the international director of the fund.
“We ask you to join us in our efforts and prayers to bring about change for those who choose to leave their Islamic faith, so that they are no longer subject to any penalty but are free to follow their new convictions without fear,” he said.
The organization said there are Islamic arguments against the apostasy law as presently interpreted, which is, in fact, a death sentence for leaving Islam.
“Some scholars point out that the Quran has no clear statement about the need to punish apostasy in this life. Others doubt that the traditions about Muhammad’s response to apostates are genuine,” the organization said.
Read first-hand accounts from those who did leave Islam!
“Still others say that apostates who were killed in the early days of Islam were condemned not for changing their faith, but for rebelling against the Islamic state,” the organization said.
The death penalty for apostasy, although not frequently publicized, is in fact imposed in some Islamic states.
“Islam is a one-way street. You can convert to Islam but you are not allowed to convert from Islam. All schools of Islamic law, Shariah, agree on this rule and specify the death sentence for an adult male Muslim who chooses to leave his Islamic faith,” the Barnabas Fund said.
“Most also impose the death penalty on women apostates. The rule was established many centuries ago by Islamic scholars, but even today most Islamic religious leaders and many ordinary Muslim people agree with it.”
Another significant impact of the law is its generation of “hostility” towards apostates.
“It is normal for converts from Islam to face persecution and violence. They may be arrested, either for apostasy or on a pretext. They may be attacked, beaten or even murdered by their own relatives. And those who commit the violence will probably not be punished for it,” the organization said.
The full range of penalties for apostasy under Shariah includes losing a spouse and children and forfeiting property and inheritance.
WND reported recently when
several U.S. lawmakers scolded the insurance giant AIG over its division that provides Shariah-compliant products in the United States, especially after the company benefited from billions of taxpayer dollars under the Wall Street bailout.
The Barnabas Fund said the Islamic apostasy law also stands in stark contrast to Article 18 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was published 60 years ago.
It states, “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief…”
The organization has set up an online petition to collect support for its effort.
The Barnabas Fund is set up to support Christians where they suffer discrimination, oppression and persecution because of their faith.
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