BigAndy9's Lesson - Apostasy

16th May 2014

Please read, then discuss.

It is absolutely ridiculous in the twenty-first century to have laws where one could be criminalised and punished for thinking differently or expressing an opinion. Just this year, Kuwait jailed Abdel Aziz Mohamed Albaz for criticizing Islam, Tunisian artist Nadia Jelassi is facing prison for her 'un-Islamic' artistic pieces, Moroccan activist Imad Alhabibi was arrested for being an ex-Muslim, and Saudi activist Raif Albadawi was sentenced last week to seven years and 600 lashings for airing his liberal views. These were in addition to the many others whom I blogged about earlier this year.
In Islam, apostasy is commonly defined as the rejection in words or action of one's religion by a person who was previously a Muslim. As simple as this might sound, the definition is quite broad and could include not only renouncing Islam, but also criticising or defaming the religion and 'attempting' to lead others away from it. It is also broad enough to include liberal and progressive Muslims who challenge traditional Islamic thoughts. Cases such as that of the late Egyptian thinker Nasr Hamid Abu-zaid who fled the country after being charged with apostasy for his critical Islamic writings and Sudanese theologian Mahmoud M. Taha who was hanged in the centre of Khartoum for expressing his progressive Islamic thoughts are just two examples among many others. Terms such as Kafir/a, Murtad/a and Zendeeg/a are specifically designed to label individuals who challenge Islam and to encourage action to be taken towards them. Ebn Warraq spells this out in his book 'Leaving Islam: Apostates Speak out'.
As I am speaking now, more than 19 Islamic states and Muslim-majority countries consider apostasy to be illegal and to merit a form of punishment. Many of these, including Iran, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, Somalia, Afghanistan, Qatar, Yemen and Mauritania have a death penalty for those who renounce or criticize Islam. Other countries like Malaysia, Morocco, Jordan and Oman consider it illegal and have in place other forms of punishments, such as fines, imprisonment, flogging and exclusion from civic or family rights like child custody.
Through the trial process, apostates are usually given a chance to publicly repent. They have to declare their guilt and vow never to repeat this act. The cases of Saudi Arabian journalist Hamza Alkashgari and the 129 Sudanese in south Khartoum are among those reported to have been forced to publicly repent to avoid the death penalty. If those charged insist upon apostasy, the court will then implement a punishment. This could be a fine, a prison term or a number of lashings. Failure of the authorities to take action means that groups and individuals can take it upon themselves to carry out a sentence. Random apostasy Fatwas by Imams and attacks by organised groups such as the 'El-Shabab' movement in Somalia, 'Amr blmaroof w nahy an Elmonkr' in Saudi Arabia and 'Buku Haram' in Nigeria are usually accepted and not questioned by local authorities.

As for the UK, a worrying pattern of aggressive attitudes toward 'apostates' has appeared recently. A survey by Policy Exchange investigated the perception of a number of Muslim communities toward the death penalty for apostates. Thirty-four percent aged 16-24 believe that apostates deserve a death penalty. This goes along with the recent documented cases of Islamic threats of violence. Among these were the threats directed towards the spokesperson for One Law for All campaign, Anne Marie, in a lecture where she was debating Sharia law and human rights; threats made against Tom Holland after broadcasting his documentary 'The Untold Story About Islam'; threats made against the Atheist, Secularists and Humanist Society at UCL for posting a 'Jesus and Mo' picture on their Facebook page; and intimidatory remarks towards 17-year-old Rhys Morgan for his "offensive" 'Jesus and Mo' drawing at school. I myself have received death threats after an interview on Sharia law implementation in the UK broadcast on Channel 4 earlier this year.


http://www.secularism.org.uk/blog/2013/08/islamic-apostasy-laws--a-big-disgrace-in-the-21st-century

This is trying to control people from their thoughts to what they say and do, it's so wrong and some of those who think Islam or any religion is best are severely brainwashed and can become very dangerous people.

Nobody should be threatened or punished for the want to leave Islam..or any other religion.

I believe it controls people through the law, through threats of violence, death and guilt too JD.

sounds like sassy didge ben on here we must not offend islam

Vicar of Dibley wrote:sounds like sassy didge ben on here we must not offend islam

You can be as a critical as you like of Islam, am happy that you are, what I find ironic is you ignore your own faith, that makes you out to be very hypocritical Dibs.

yes i am a hypocrite didge , but where islam is concerned my faith is perfect

Vicar of Dibley wrote:yes i am a hypocrite didge , but where islam is concerned my faith is perfect

Using your logic it is far from perfect Dibs, as is any faith.

my faith is perfect , we don't give someone 100 lashes for committing adultery , if Jesus forgives our every sin then that's good enough .
we don't sentence those to death who wish to convert to another religion we say go your way and if you decide it isn't for you we welcome you back into the family of God .
we don't kill gays .

Vicar of Dibley wrote:my faith is perfect , we don't give someone 100 lashes for committing adultery , if Jesus forgives our every sin then that's good enough .
we don't sentence those to death who wish to convert to another religion we say go your way and if you decide it isn't for you we welcome you back into the family of God .
we don't kill gays .

Your faith claims to be about families does it not?

explain that more didge i don't do riddles

Vicar of Dibley wrote:explain that more didge i don't do riddles

Is families important in Christianity?

Didge wrote:

Vicar of Dibley wrote:explain that more didge i don't do riddles

Is families important in Christianity?

ARE families...

Or IS THE family...

BigAndy9 wrote:

Didge wrote:

Is families important in Christianity?

ARE families...

Or IS THE family...

Families

Didge wrote:

BigAndy9 wrote:


ARE families...

Or IS THE family...

Families

Oh my goodness - didge didge didge, i'm not asking you a question, giving you a choice.

I'm telling you your two choices - both would have worked. What doesn't work is "is families important in Christianity?"

I'm trying to help you, teach you something!

BigAndy9 wrote:

Didge wrote:


Families

Oh my goodness - didge didge didge, i'm not asking you a question, giving you a choice.

I'm telling you your two choices - both would have worked.  What doesn't work is "is families important in Christianity?"

I'm trying to help you, teach you something!

You are helping me with a question I have asked?

Ha ha ha

No need thanks, just an answer will be fine

Vicar of Dibley wrote:sounds like sassy didge ben on here we must not offend islam

  

Didge wrote:

BigAndy9 wrote:


Oh my goodness - didge didge didge, i'm not asking you a question, giving you a choice.

I'm telling you your two choices - both would have worked.  What doesn't work is "is families important in Christianity?"

I'm trying to help you, teach you something!

You are helping me with a question I have asked?

Ha ha ha

No need thanks, just an answer will be fine

It doesn't work that way - if you are an idiot (real or perceived) you will be ignored.

If you can't converse with the locals, you will be smiled at kindly, and ignored.

BigAndy9 wrote:

Didge wrote:


You are helping me with a question I have asked?

Ha ha ha

No need thanks, just an answer will be fine

It doesn't work that way - if you are an idiot (real or perceived) you will be ignored.

If you can't converse with the locals, you will be smiled at kindly, and ignored.

Is that why many people ignore many of your threads then Andy?

Many pople smile when you post, says much about you mate.

Again nice attempt at distracting from my questions which still stand

your full of yourself didge , why do you think we have to answer your questions ?
your a racist and a traitor you hate english people you hate england why should anyone bother with you

Vicar of Dibley wrote:your full of yourself didge , why do you think we have to answer your questions ?
your a racist and a traitor you hate english people you hate england why should anyone bother with you

Hilarious, so again you detract to make simpleton idiotic claims about me, when I thought this was a debate forum, thus people who copout of answering points, clearly cannot debate.
You are making excuses you cannot face challenging points or questions

no your a racist wanker who demands everyone agree with your views   

Vicar of Dibley wrote:no your a racist wanker who demands everyone agree with your views   

Hello HF, I suggest ou get your own account instead of using your wife's.

You can call me what you like my boy, I have no doubt you were kicked out of the army for sexual abuse and racism.

 ::D::