New Organization For Apostates
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Telegraph, UK
June 21, 2007
New group for those who renounce Islam
By Jonathan Petre, Religion Correspondent
A new organisation, representing former Muslims who fear for their
lives because they have renounced their faith, is to be launched at
Westminster tomorrow.
The Council of ex-Muslims of Britain plans to speak out against
Islamic states that still punish Muslim apostates with death under
Sharia law.
It also aims to become the voice of non-religious ex-Muslims who do
not want to be represented by "regressive" umbrella groups such as the
Muslim Council of Britain.
The council is being headed by Maryam Namazie, an outspoken human
rights activist, following the formation of similar branches across
Europe. Miss Namazie, a Left-wing feminist who was awarded the title
of "Secularlist of the Year" in 2005, has herself faced death threats.
In Islam, apostasy is called ridda (turning back) and it is considered
by Muslims to be a profound insult to God, which deserves harsh
punishment. The nature of the punishment, however, provokes passionate
debate between scholars, with most believing that it should attract
the death penalty for men and life imprisonment for women.
Apostasy is punishable by death in a number of countries, including
Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iran, Sudan and Afghanistan. In other parts of
the world they can be shunned by family and friends.
Last year Abdul Rahman, an Afghan convert from Islam to Christianity,
attracted international attention after prosecutors called for his
death.
However, under heavy pressure from foreign governments, the Afghan
authorities declared him unfit to stand trial and released him. Miss
Namazie, who was forced to flee her native Iran, said: "We are
establishing the alternative to the likes of the Muslim Council of
Britain because we don't think people should be pigeonholed as Muslims
or deemed to be represented by regressive organisations like the MCB.
She added: ''We are quite certain we represent a majority in Europe
and a vast secular and humanist protest movement in countries like
Iran."
She said the new Council, the launch of which is being sponsored by
the British Humanist Association and the National Secular Society,
will start with a membership of 25 British ex-Muslims who are prepared
to be named and pictured publicly.