Muslims converting to Christianity is a thorny issue almost anywhere in the world, but recently U.K. media attention has focused in on the persecution of former Muslims not in foreign land but in its own backyard.
Former Muslims who convert to Christianity are threatened with disownment and violence at the hands of their own family members – much like in parts of the Middle East. But the difference is these families don’t reside in a theocratic society, but in a western country that upholds religious freedom – including the right to convert to another faith.
BBC, U.K.’s leading news network, featured several stories and programs in recent months devoted to the issue of persecution of Christian converts from Islam. In its latest feature on Monday, it highlighted real cases of England-based Muslims who convert to Christianity and the consequences that follow.
Sophia (not her real name) is from a Pakistani background but lives in east London. Her family has put extreme pressure on her to return to Islam since she converted to Christianity.
“They kept saying, ‘The punishment is death, do you know the punishment is death?” she recalled to BBC.
She ended up running away from home, but her mother found her and showed up at her baptism.
“I got up to get baptized, that’s when my mother got up, ran to the front and tried to pull me out of the water,” Sophia said.
“My brother was really angry. He reacted and phoned me on my mobile and just said, ‘I’m coming down to burn that church,’” she remembered.
Another U.K. convert case is Ziya Meral, who was disowned by his parents when they found out about his conversion.
“They said ‘go away, you’re not our son,’” Meral said. “They told people I died in an accident rather than having the shame of their son leaving Islam.”
Meral’s case is slightly different from Sophia because he was born and raised in Turey. His family still remains there. He went to England to study at a university and later became a follower of Jesus Christ.
He had planned to gently break the news to his parents, but instead they found out when they saw him on national news being described as “an evil missionary” intent on “brainwashing” Turkish children. The wild story was based on a clip of Meral eating at a Christian summer camp right before heading back to Turkey.
For converts such as Sophia and Meral, there is widespread belief by Muslims around the world that they should be punished by death.
A poll conducted by the Policy Exchange last year suggested that over a third of young British Muslims believe that the death penalty should be used for apostasy.
But several highly respected Muslim scholars are saying that the Quran does not say apostates must be punished by death. Rather, the teaching is from hadiths, or recorded traditions and sayings of the Muslim prophet Muhammad.
Usama Hassan, a Cambridge-educated scientist and an imam, contends that classical scholars were wrong in how they interpreted the Quran. He firmly denounces those who advocate the death penalty.
"I believe the classical law of apostasy in Islam is wrong and based on a misunderstanding of the original sources, because the Quran and Hadith don't actually talk about a death penalty for apostasy," Hassan argues.
Last year, Egypt’s top religious advisor, the Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa, also said Muslims are free to change their religion and should not be given worldly punishment because it “is a matter between an individual and God,” according to Agence France-Presse.
Former Muslim turned Christian leader, Dr. Patrick Sookhdeo of the Barnabas Fund, said he is “delighted” to see the British media zoom in on the issue of conversion from Islam and the persecution of former Muslims.
“As a convert from Islam myself, part of my life’s work has been to seek to see this most cruel of laws removed from Islam, and to see that Christians like myself are given freedom to choose and believe without facing persecution and possibly death,” Sookhdeo wrote in a Barnabas e-mail newsletter Monday.
“It is good to hear imams like Usama Hassan stating clearly that he believes the classical law of apostasy in Islam is wrong and denouncing those who advocate the death penalty,” said Sookhdeo, who is also the director of the Institute for the Study of Islam and Christianity. “Finally the world is waking up to this outrage and injustice. The secular media is to be congratulated for taking up the issue.”
The Islam expert – who advises British, American, and NATO military officials on jihadist ideology – called on Christians to pray that there will be real progress in religious freedom for former Muslims in the world.
Comments
All those who wish to follow Jesus (peace be upon him) should revert to their birth-faith, the faith of the one, true and indivisble God, Islam.
Recite: There is only one God and Mohammed (peace be upon him) is the messenger of God.
And know this: the religion you follow is that of Mithras. Not Jesus Christ.
I read this and think of some "Christians" who can't even get out of bed on Sunday morning to go to church.
These people are giving up personal safety, family, friends, etc. to follow Christ. Yet, there are some of us "Christians" that can't even give up a few hours of sleep or a Sunday football game.
"Former Muslims who convert to Christianity are threatened with disownment and violence at the hands of their own family members – much like in parts of the Middle East. But the difference is these families don’t reside in a theocratic society, but in a western country that upholds religious freedom – including the right to convert to another faith."
If Islam is marketed as the "religion of peace," why is it known for violence? We have a verse from the Bible that says "you shall know a tree by its fruit..." Islam, come home to Jesus!
The death penalty mentioned by the Muslim families of the converts to Christianity is based on the Quran and mostly from Hadith, the sayings of Muhammad.
Anybody mentioning the removal of the death penalty for apostasy from Hadit is preamble to their rejection of Muhammad. Thus by motioning people to reject some of the violent content of Hadith also correlates with rejection of violent content of Quran (base of the Hadith) and is equal to denouncing Islam, which is GOOD.
For reference please read these verses
Quran Sura (4:89) 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 wherever ye find them
Hadith Bukhari (52:260) The Prophet said, if somebody (a Muslim) discards his religion, kill him
Hadith Bukhari (83:37) Allah Apostle never killed anyone except in one of the following three situations: (1) A person who killed somebody unjustly, was killed (in Qisas,) (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.
Hadith Bukhari (84:57) [In the words of] Allah Apostle, Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him
Hadith Bukhari (84:64-65) Allah Apostle: During the last days there will appear some young foolish people who will say the best words but their faith will not go beyond their throats (i.e. they will have no faith) and will go out from (leave) their religion as an arrow goes out of the game. So, wherever you find them, kill them, for whoever kills them shall have reward on the Day of Resurrection
British Muslim cannot apply sharia to these converts because they are British citizen and is living in England. If they still want to apply sharia, then let them return to Pakistan or other Islam nations which still use it.
Makes you wonder what will happen after Hussein Obama is elected!
Makes you wonder WHAT is in store for America [or what little is left of this ONCE GODLY country] after HUSSEIN OBAMA is elected?
Makes you wonder WHAT is in store for America [or what little is left of this ONCE GODLY country] after HUSSEIN OBAMA is elected?
If a person can't have the protection from the state like England to follow their own convictions
and religious faith, it is a sad predicament. Thousands of Muslims are coming to Christian
faith around the world, not by hearing the preaching from a preacher or Pastor, but they
see visions of Jesus and Jesus himself revealing to them that He only can give peace and
joy that the truth seekers are seeking for. Now the critical question, if these people who had
personal encouter with Jesus can't follow Him in peace!. If the government of Britain fail to
protect these believers in their newly found faith: that same country who sent missionaries to
foreign lands years back, will have to answer before God. God is a loving God, but He is also
a God of judgment.
Phileo said: Islam advances by fear and the sword.
More like terrorism:
Qur'an 8:60
YUSUFALI: Against them (unbelievers) make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to STRIKE TERROR INTO THE ENEMIES OF ALLAH and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom Allah doth know. (In other words: Terrorize the unbelievers that you know, as well as those you don't know. Use whatever means you have at your disposal.) Whatever ye shall spend in the cause of Allah, shall be repaid unto you, and ye shall not be treated unjustly.
Qur'an 3:151
PICKTHAL: We (Muslims) shall cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve (Christians) because they ascribe unto Allah partners (by teaching the Trinity), for which no warrant hath been revealed. Their habitation is the Fire (of Hell), and hapless the abode of the wrong-doers.
Islam advances by fear and the sword. Christianity advances through the truth and love of Jesus Christ.
You tell me which religion you'd prefer to choose from?