[VeritatisSplendor]

Glancing through the comments, one can see that around 50% uphold Rahman’s execution because this is what the Sharia [Muslim law] says. For at least one out of four of these, the essential reason for the death penalty for apostates is: if conversion to another religion is allowed, this would be fitnah (sedition), it would prompt others to follow this path, and thus all would become Christians. To halt this trend, which is not considered “normal,” it is better to kill. The concept of “fitnah” is Koranic (mentioned more than 30 times in the Koran) and it often justifies violence.

All would become Christians? Father Samir's interpretation, or Muslim thought?

Mrs VS

[Sometimes A River]

One of the Afghani Imans said something to that effect.

If the Apsotate was deported, then many others would follow, so they could go to the West as well.

[tessalu]

It was God himself that chose to give man his free will to chose , and Islam tries to take this from any man. How can one not see that this is pure evil? To force a "religion" upon a man?

[Patrick_k]

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?cid=1119503547222&pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaEAskTheScholar

tells about the official moslem position facing the apostasy (al-riddah).

whereas (in arabic):
http://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A8_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%A9

tells about the wars against apostates (Houroub al-riddah)and their causes, the first paragraph says:

"The 'riddah' wars took place immediatly after the death of Mohammed and were aimed at those arabs who retracted from the new faith of Islam. Remained faithful to the Caliph Abu-Bakr, only the tribes around Medinah, plus the inhabitants of Medinah, Mekkah and Ta'ef. The Caliph Abu-Bakr decided to fight all the retracted, and 'did not leave anyone' of them, despite the direct intercession of the fellows of the prophet to spare only those who did not abide by the 'zakat'...."

Apparently, were it not for this violent (sarcastically their "shock and awe")reaction in its first days, we would only read about Islam in specialized History books.

[NYer]

All would become Christians? Father Samir's interpretation, or Muslim thought?

Christianity began in the east and predates Islam. Fr. Samir is considered an authority on Muslim Christian relations. It makes sense that Arabs would be drawn back to christianity.