VIN IENCO: ISLAM AND APOSTASY
http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.10079/pub_detail.asp
Similarly to what we know of the Mafia, Islam has an inbuilt clause that instructs its followers, ‘if you leave, you die’. Most Islamic countries advocate death for apostates though some people are jailed until they recant. In some instances, apostates’ families are also harassed or kidnapped and tortured. Yet another of Islams’ insecurities is exposed in hanging the threat of death over a person’s head, for having freedom of conscience. If this were not so serious issue, it would resemble a cheap, Hollywood gangster movie. Welcome to Islam.
The definition of apostasy in Islam requires that the person:
- Has understood and professed the Shahada (‘there is no God but Allah, and Mohammad is his messenger’).
- Understands the code of conduct or religious law of Islam (Sharia Law).
- Is of sound mind.
- Has reached or surpassed puberty (Reliance of the Traveler: Islamic Law o8.1 – “When a person who has reached puberty, is sane and voluntarily apostatizes from Islam, he deserves to be killed”).
- Has consciously and deliberately rejected or consciously and deliberately intends to reject as untrue either the Shahada and Shariah Law and all that it entails.
- Scholars from the Sunni schools of jurisprudence (Maliki) additionally require that the person in question have publicly engaged in the obligatory practices of the religion.
In his early years, Mohammed preached peace and tolerance. This proved catastrophic in getting people to believe in the repurposed moon God, Allah. Barely a handful of people converted to Islam in its early years. In 623 AD, Mohammed ordered raids upon Meccan caravans and discovered that robbery, murder and enslavement were satisfyingly lucrative. The verses of peace were out and violence, rape, mutilation and murder were now in. Enter abrogation. It is important to note that Islam allows its followers to lie and use a superseded (abrogated) verse from the Koran when confronted with the question of apostasy.
Late last year, Pamela Geller was interviewed with an Imam from New York over the plans for the World Trade Center mosque. During the interview the issue of apostasy was raised by Geller. The Imam calmly opened his Koran and quoted, ‘there is no compulsion in religion, it is stated right here in the Koran.’ The verse reads:
“Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth has been made clear from error. Whoever rejects false worship and believes in God has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that never breaks. And God hears and knows all things.” (Quran 2:256)
That seems innocent enough, though unfortunately that verse is irrelevant. Hence, apostates from Islam are on the run and in hiding, if they are still alive. It isn’t too hard to find an article about an apostate and the challenges they face. Here is one resource. This is what the Koran and Hadith say about apostasy:
(004.089) “They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (From what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them”.
(009.066) “Make ye no excuses: ye have rejected Faith after ye had accepted it. If we pardon some of you, we will punish others amongst you, for that they are in sin”
(4:52:260) Narrated Ikrima: Ali burnt some people and this news reached Ibn ‘Abbas, who said, “Had I been in his place I would not have burnt them, as the Prophet said, ‘don’t punish (anybody) with Allah’s Punishment.’ No doubt, I would have killed them, for the Prophet said, ‘If somebody (a Muslim) discards his religion, kill him.’ ”
(9:83:37) Narrated Abu Qilaba: “By Allah, Allah’s Apostle never killed anyone except in one of the following three situations: (1) A person who killed somebody unjustly (2) a married person who committed illegal sexual intercourse and (3) a man who fought against Allah and His Apostle and deserted Islam and became an apostate.”
Rifqa Bary: Rifqa Bary (pictured above) was an outgoing seventeen year old girl originally from New Albany, Ohio. She completed her Junior year at New Albany High School, a nationally recognized school of excellence. She was a model student, earned good grades, was a popular cheerleader and even held a part-time job at a local restaurant.
Rifqa’s life was publicly shattered when she abruptly fled her Ohio home in fear for her life and surfaced in Orlando, Florida three weeks later. She had been living a private life and was constantly fearful of being discovered. When this secret was exposed to her parents by members of the Bary family’s religious congregation – threats were made that scared Rifqa to the point where she felt forced to undertake drastic measures to save herself.
What was her secret, her crime? She converted from Islam to Christianity.
Bary had alleged that her father had said, “If you have this Jesus in your heart, you are dead to me!” She says her father then added, “I will kill you!” In September 2010, she was granted residency status and has not been in contact with any family members as she is still afraid of them.
Kamariah Ali: A 57-year old female school teacher from Malaysia (pictured above) was originally jailed for 20 months in 1992 and again in 2005 for apostasy. Over 60 percent of Malaysians are Sunni Muslims. Islam is the state religion and Malaysia claims to support freedom of religion though Muslims are not permitted to convert to other religions.
Passing sentence in her most recent court appearance, the Sharia judge Mohammed Abdullah said, “The court is not convinced that the accused has repented and is willing to abandon any teachings contrary to Islam. I pray God will open the doors of your heart, Kamariah.”
“This has to stop. They can’t be sending her again and again to prison for this,” her lawyer, Sa’adiah Din, told reporters. “She informed the court that she is not a Muslim. She doesn’t come under Sharia court anymore.”
Yosef Nadarkhani:
A 32 year old pastor from Rasht, Iran, he converted to Christianity in 1998 and was arrested in 2009 for apostasy. He had refused to teach Islam to children at a Christian school and was sentenced to death by hanging. An appeal was won by Yosefs’ legal team but he is now required to attend court again to answer the charges of organizing evangelistic meetings, sharing his faith, inviting others to convert, running a house church, and ‘denying Islamic values’.
Yosef was born to Muslim parents, though he had never practiced any faith until his conversion at age 19. Islamic law dictates that being born to Muslim parents makes him a Muslim and as such, apostasy from Islam is forbidden.
Tahie Yusuf al-Qaradawi has many claims to fame in the Islamic world, including the creation of the extremely popular website, Islamonline. He is also considered to be in the top 3 of Muslim intellectuals in the world and has long had a prominent role within the intellectual leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood. Tahie has a popular show on Al Jazeera called ‘Shariah and Life’, with an enviable viewing audience of some 40 million Muslims worldwide. When he speaks, Muslims listen.
Qaradawi believes that punishment for apostasy is an established Islamic tradition and that all the jurists are unanimous on this. He writes:
“All Muslim jurists agree that the apostate is to be punished. However, they differ regarding the punishment itself. The majority of them go for killing; meaning that an apostate is to be sentenced to death. Authentic Hadith have been reported in this regard. Ibn `Abbas reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever changes his religion, you kill him.”
Ali P, personal friend and apostate of Islam:
“How this cult of hate has darkened my Haj going (pilgrimage to Mecca) super Muslim mother’s heart so much that she claimed in her own words, to her only son (me), that she will cut my throat with her own hands if she sees me in person? My own mother! This is what Islam does to your mind and soul when you surrender to it. Do you know why? It’s because you are surrendering to Satan”,
It is easy to conclude that there is freedom of religion in Islam. You are free to be a Muslim or you are free to be tortured, harassed, jailed or put to death. Over-breeding, forced conversions and death to apostates all add up to the ever-entangling web of stealth jihad, slowly choking our freedom and enveloping the planet.
Family Security Matters Contributing Editor Vin Ienco is a commentator and analyst on the effects of Global Islamism and a vocal opponent of Sharia Law. Visit his website at http://vinienco.com/.
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