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U.N. receives Muslim 'apostasy' petition
WorldNetDaily.com ^
| Tuesday, August 3, 2004
Posted on 08/02/2004 11:26:38 PM PDT by JohnHuang2
A major international petition calling on Islamic leaders to allow Muslims to convert to another faith was presented to the United Nations.
The petition, signed by 88,890 people from 32 countries, says "Muslims who choose to convert to another faith" should be "free to do so without having to face a lifetime of fear as a result."
Under Sharia, or Islamic law, Muslims who convert to another faith and refuse to repent must be put to death.
The British charity Barnabas Fund presented the petition to U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour July 28.
The group said it launched the petition a year and a half ago on behalf of Muslims who "face serious persecution and massive prejudice in many countries around the world" because they choose to leave Islam.
A Barnabas Fund representative also met at the Palais des Nations in Geneva with Ambassador Mike Smith, chairman of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights, and Soli J. Sorabjee, chairman of the U.N. Sub-commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.
In addition to the signatures, 92 members of the British Parliament last year signed a motion that "supports liberal Muslims, human rights campaigners and others who are calling for an end to cruel traditional punishments for apostasy."
The Barnabas Fund acknowledges the tradition is upheld and taught by most Muslim religious leaders around the world. But it notes a reformist interpretation that claims an apostate can be put to death only if he also is a danger to the Islamic state.
Traditionalists insist, nevertheless, every apostate is a danger to the Islamic social order and has committed high treason.
Some schools of Sharia teach the death penalty should be applied to women as well. Other punishments prescribed by Sharia include annulment of marriage, removal of children and loss of all property and inheritance rights.
In countries such as Iran, Sudan and Saudi Arabia, converts have faced imprisonment, death threats, torture and beatings. Some have been executed, and others have died in prison or disappeared. Barnabas also notes converts often face widespread hostility and aggression from their own families and communities even in more moderate Muslim countries and in Western nations where Muslims are a minority
The Barnabas Fund says that while hundreds of letters have been sent to the Muslim Council of Britain urging a constructive dialogue on the matter, it believes not a single response has been received.
Hundreds of letters also have been sent to the main regional heads of British Christian denominations with virtually no response.
"Many privately acknowledge the terrible suffering of apostates and admit to the gravity of the situation, but are unprepared to speak out publicly," the group says.
The British government, according to Barnabas, has produced "very non-committal replies appearing to dismiss the plight of those labeled as apostates as something which does not concern them domestically since 'Sharia law does not apply in the UK.'"
But Barnabas points out that in April, Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed of the extremist Islamic organization al-Muhajiroun issued a fatwa condemning the Muslim Labour party peer Lord Ahmed of Rotherham as an apostate because of his calls for greater integration of Muslims into British society.
"When even members of its own government are the victims of veiled threats as apostates surely this is an issue the British authorities must deal with both seriously and publicly," Barnabas says.
The Barnabas Fund's international director, Patrick Sookhdeo, said, "It is a tragic day when so few politician or religious leaders can be found who are prepared to stick their necks out by simply publicly affirming the most basic of human rights to change one's religion, something that has been enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for over 50 years."
TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: ageofliberty; almuhajiroun; barnabasfund; converts; islamicdemocracy; sharia; sharialaw; sookhdeo
To: JohnHuang2
Under Sharia, or Islamic law, Muslims who convert to another faith and refuse to repent must be put to death. My cell phone company has that exact same plan.
To: JohnHuang2
Under Sharia, or Islamic law, Muslims who convert to another faith and refuse to repent must be put to death.This sentence tells it all. There is no negotiating with the Islamofascists.
3
posted on
08/02/2004 11:38:46 PM PDT
by
backslacker
(Islam is the Enemy Within)
To: GeronL
To: JohnHuang2
and what exactly do they think the UN is gonna do about it?
5
posted on
08/02/2004 11:54:07 PM PDT
by
GeronL
(geocities.com/geronl is back)
To: JohnHuang2
Of course, Muslims demand the reight to proselytize their faith and that converts to Islam be accepted. On the other hand, being a Muslim is like visiting the Roach Motel -- you can check in but you can't check out!
To: Siamese Princess
Islam IS as Islam DOES!!!
7
posted on
08/03/2004 4:00:34 AM PDT
by
elcid1970
To: JohnHuang2
In countries such as Iran, Sudan and Saudi Arabia, converts have faced imprisonment, death threats, torture and beatings. Some have been executed, and others have died in prison or disappeared. Barnabas also notes converts often face widespread hostility and aggression from their own families and communities even in more moderate Muslim countries and in Western nations where Muslims are a minority.Note, this is not the work of extremist terrorists. This is the official government position.
Religion of peace? I don't think so.
To: JohnHuang2
They should include murder contracts on those like Salmon (sp?) Rushdie.
9
posted on
08/03/2004 4:01:45 AM PDT
by
tkathy
(The choice is clear. Big tent or no tent.)
To: JohnHuang2
"Muslims who choose to convert to another faith" should be "free to do so without having to face a lifetime of fear as a result." This is the first in a long line of steps by which the terrorist ideology of islam will be completely removed from the world stage.
An outstanding move!!!
10
posted on
08/03/2004 4:02:42 AM PDT
by
Freebird Forever
(islam IS a terrorist support network)
To: backslacker
Ahhhhhh, Islam The Religion of Peace Cult of Death
11
posted on
08/03/2004 4:03:11 AM PDT
by
7.62 x 51mm
(• Veni • Vidi • Vino • Visa • "I came, I saw, I drank wine, I shopped")
To: GeronL
"and what exactly do they think the UN is gonna do about it?"
I was wondering that too, but maybe they want "the right to change your religion" included in some defining UN Document(s). Even though it wouldn't really do any good, but they are probably mostly seeking publicity.
12
posted on
08/03/2004 4:24:08 AM PDT
by
jocon307
To: JohnHuang2
Islam is the most intolerant of all religions. This would be one small step toward relaxing their unbelieveable stranglehold on the human spirit in vast areas of the world.
13
posted on
08/03/2004 5:58:44 AM PDT
by
Gritty
("Believe me, behind closed doors, there are no moderate Muslims"-Abu Musa)
To: JohnHuang2
While the UN can't really do squat about this, at least the evil practice of murdering those who come to their senses & leave Islam is *exposed.*
Shameful that British Christian churches are ignoring the effort entirely. I guess they're too busy bleating on about "the religion of peace." It goes against the propaganda they're spoon-feeding their own congregants.
To: JohnHuang2
I want reciprocity. Something like making it a capital crime for any Muslim in the US to try to convert any other person to Islam. Kind of a mirror image to what they have in Saudi Arabia.
15
posted on
08/03/2004 7:59:03 AM PDT
by
Kenton
("Life is tough, and it's really tough when you're stupid" - Damon Runyon)
To: JohnHuang2
Maybe someone can explain something to me. The Webster Dictionary defines Islam as the religion of Muhammad and Muslim as a follower of Muhammad. So how can a Muslim follow any other kind of religion other than Islam. I mean, if a Muslim goes to another religion then that person will no longer be a Muslim right because they will no longer be a follower of Muhammad. To more clearly express myself, say a Muslim converts to Christianity, that person would no longer be a Muslim because a person can not be a follower of Muhammad and Christ at the same time. If this thinking is incorrect, would someone please tell me what is meant when the word Muslim is used to describe someone. Are there people called Muslims that are not followers of Muhammad?
16
posted on
08/03/2004 8:01:53 AM PDT
by
AIC
To: AIC
I read something not too long ago that sheds light on the whol e islam cult. The notion of "once a muslim always a muslim" (in their warped view) applies not only to people
but also to land. Hence their fanatical feelings about places like Israel and Spain - according to the cultists, these were once muslim places so they should always be muslim places. And I guess it sort of explains the fanatic bin laden ideas about "infidels" being in Saudi etc. etc.
I put it together that islam is a cult bent on world domination - that is their overriding goal, and they have strong ideas about once they've established various beachheads they have a notion that they can't lose any ground. It all sort of makes sense (in an extremely warped way).
To: JohnHuang2
This article has been posted to DoctorZins New News Blog!
18
posted on
08/03/2004 8:32:52 AM PDT
by
DoctorZIn
(Until they are Free, "We shall all be Iranians!")
To: JohnHuang2
PRESS RELEASE 2 August 2004
For Immediate Release
BARNABAS FUND PRESENTS APOSTASY CAMPAIGN PETITION TO THE UN
On Wednesday 28 July Barnabas Fund presented to Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, a major international petition signed by 88,890 people from 32 countries calling for Muslims who choose to convert to another faith to be free to do so without having to face
a lifetime of fear as a result.
The petition was launched a year ago on behalf of Muslims who convert to another faith (apostates) who face serious persecution and massive prejudice in many countries around the world. As well as meeting Mrs Arbour a Barnabas Fund representative also met with Ambassador Mike Smith, Chairman of the UN Commission on Human Rights and Mr Soli J Sorabjee, Chairman of the UN Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
In addition to the 88,890 signatures collected from around the world, 92 British MPs last year signed an Early Day Motion in connection with the campaign in the House of Commons which commences: That this house supports liberal Muslims, human rights campaigners and others who are calling for an end to cruel traditional punishments for apostasy.
PERSECUTION OF CONVERTS
According to traditional Islamic law (Shariah), adult Muslim men who choose to adopt any other belief and refuse to return to Islam, should be put to death. Other punishments include the annulment of marriage, the removal of children and the loss of all property and inheritance
rights. This tradition is still upheld and taught by most Muslim religious leaders around the world today. In some countries (notably Iran, Saudi Arabia and Sudan) this is part of the law, and Muslims who have adopted another belief have faced imprisonment, death threats, torture and beatings because of their decision. Some have been executed; others have died in prison or disappeared. Even in countries where apostasy is not punished by law, Muslims who adopt another belief often face widespread hostility and aggression from their own families and communities.
DEAFENING SILENCE
Over the past year supporters of Barnabas Funds campaign have written to Muslim leaders, parliamentarians, heads of state, public figures and religious leaders around the world urging them to speak out on this crucial issue. In the UK alone hundreds of letters have been sent to the Muslim Council of Britain urging a constructive dialogue on the matter; to the best of our knowledge not a single response has been received. Hundreds of letters have also been sent to the main regional heads of the UKs Christian denominations, with virtually no response. Many privately acknowledge the terrible suffering of apostates and admit to the gravity of the situation, but are unprepared to speak out publicly.
The British government has produced very non-committal replies appearing to dismiss the plight of those labelled as apostates as something which does not concern them domestically since Shariah law does not apply in the UK. This is despite the fact that in April 2004 Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed of the extremist Islamic organization al-Muhajiroun issued a fatwa condemning the Muslim Labour peer Lord Ahmed of Rotherham as an apostate because of his calls for greater
integration of Muslims into British society. When even members of its own government are the victims of veiled threats as apostates surely this is an issue the British authorities must deal with both seriously and publicly.
SPEAKING OUT
Speaking from Barnabas Funds office Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, international director of the Fund said It is a tragic day when so few political or religious leaders can be found who are prepared to
stick their necks out by simply publicly affirming the most basic of human rights to change ones religion, something that has been enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for over fifty years.
My hope and prayer is that this campaign will help to end the turning of a blind eye to the suffering of converts from Islam, and instead put their desperate needs firmly on to the international human rights agenda where they very much belong Dr Sookhdeo said.
Notes for Editors
Copies of Barnabas Funds open letter to Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights which was presented in conjunction with the petition are available on request. Photos of the meeting are also available on request.
For further information or an interview please contact Nicholas Piercy, Advocacy Officer, Barnabas Fund on +44 (0)1672 564938 or by Email
info@barnabasfund.org .
Further information on the issue of Apostasy and the persecution of converts is available on Barnabas Funds website
http://www.barnabasfund.org/Apostasy.htm Barnabas Fund, The Old Rectory, River Street, Pewsey, Wiltshire, SN9 5DB, UK
Tel: + 44 (0) 1672 564938, Fax: + 44 (0) 1672 565030
E-mail:
info@barnabasfund.org Web: www.barnabasfund.org
This is the news release from the web site of the Barnabas Fund.
19
posted on
08/03/2004 2:46:12 PM PDT
by
protest1
To: valkyrieanne
"In the UK alone hundreds of letters have been sent to the Muslim Council of Britain urging a constructive dialogue on the matter; to the best of our knowledge not a single response has been received. Hundreds of letters have also been sent to the main regional heads of the UKs Christian denominations, with virtually no response. Many privately acknowledge the terrible suffering of apostates and admit to the gravity of the situation, but are unprepared to speak out publicly. So much for the "moderate" Muslim Council of Britain. As for the so called "Christian denominations" their hypocritical heretical apostasy is clear for all to see.
Matthew 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
20
posted on
08/03/2004 2:58:36 PM PDT
by
protest1
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