Fortunately, it has now been widely reported that the Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani is facing the death penalty, having once again refused to convert to Islam to save his life:
• Nadarkhani was arrested in 2009 for the crime of apostasy because he allegedly abandoned Islam for Christianity. As a pastor, Iranian clerics believe that Nadarkhani was preaching in order to convert Muslims.
While it is encouraging that many are petitioning for his release and dismissal of all charges against him, it is important to remember that this type of egregious human rights violations is endemic to Islam. Although most Islamic countries will not impose the death penalty if a Muslim converts, I don’t know of any that will allow this to slide. The Koran reads:
• But whosoever accepts disbelief willingly, he incurs God's Wrath, and there is severe torment for all such people"(Quran-usc 16:106).
Although the Koran does not designate a particular penalty for apostasy, several sayings of Mohammad (the Hadiths) specify death:
• Narrated 'Abdullah: Allah's Apostle said, "The blood of a Muslim who confesses that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that I am His Apostle, cannot be shed except in three cases: In Qisas for murder, a married person who commits illegal sexual intercourse and the one who reverts from Islam (apostate) and leaves the Muslims." (Bukhari, Sahih al-Bukhari, 9:83:17)
According to the Wikipedia, even when Islamic governments do not impose penalties for apostasy, the Imams will:
• The violence or threats of violence against apostates in the Muslim world usually derives not from government authorities but from individuals or groups operating with impunity from the government. An example is the stabbing of a Bangladeshi Murtad Fitri Christian evangelist while returning home from a film version of the Gospel of Luke. Bangladesh does not have a law against apostasy, but some Imams encourage the killing of converts from Islam. Ex-Muslims in Great Britain have faced abuse, violence, and even murder at the hands of Muslims. There are similar reports of violent intimidation of those electing to reject Islam in other Western countries.
The Wikipedia also cites a Pew survey revealing that many Muslims believe that the convert should be put to death:
• A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center found relatively widespread popular support for death penalty as a punishment for apostasy in Egypt (84% of respondents in favor of death penalty), Jordan (86% in favor), Indonesia (30% in favor), Pakistan (76% favor) and Nigeria (51% in favor)
.
Double standards abound! While the evangelism of Muslims is strictly forbidden and punished throughout the Islamic world, the Muslim is free to evangelize anyone. Muslims can even marry non-Muslim women – they then have to convert to Islam – men of other religions are forbidden from marrying Muslim women. While no one is free to criticize Islam, Muslims are free to criticize other religions. While no one can deface a Koran, Bibles are routinely destroyed.
If Muslims are going to settle in the West, these double standards have to be addressed, and not indulged out of fear of a violent response.
However, we Christians have to keep these concerns in context of the higher, more glorious spiritual truths:
1. We too deserve only the wrath of God, but were saved by the sheer grace of God. Therefore, we, as individuals, need to treat the Muslim with the same mercy.
2. Knowing that our foremost battle is against spiritual entities, we cannot be bitter against Muslims but must love them.
My first thought is to wonder how this double standard stacks up against some of the Levitical laws in the Old Testament. While it is true that we do not find these laws being applied in contemporary contexts does that show that Muslims take their Scriptures more seriously? Or does it show that Christians pick and choose what "laws" they think more applicable in a modern context? Many people have a difficult time differentiating between the harshness of the Koran and the harshness prescribed in the O.T.
ReplyDeleteFirefly,
ReplyDeleteFor one thing, Jesus fulfilled the Mosaic Law. For another, I think that there are profound differences between Mosaic Law and the Koran. If you'd care to present some examples of what you regard as commonalities in harshness, I'd be glad to discuss them with you.
The contrast between Islam and Christianity is amazing. I can only assume Islam to be a religion lacking in hope of the return of the convert to Islam since they are passionate about killing the convert. Where is the love for their brother or sister? Where is the attempt to bring them back to Allah? as a Christian would do when one strays from the faith. Muslims are growing by huge numbers in the West but they are attempting to be govern by their laws in our society which sets a dangerous order in the land. Christians need to wake up, speak out and yes love our Islamic brother and sister but we need to stay under the rule of one government not each group having their own ruling system.
ReplyDeleteThe double standard of Islam can not be accepted, especially here in the West, where we still have the right to engage in personal evangelism. What happens when a Muslim kills a Christian for converting Muslims to Christianity in the West? Could this happen and what would it mean for personal evangelism? Could they use their laws and belief to escape prosecution here?
JD NYSB Thursday 7:30
JD,
ReplyDeleteYou raise legitimate concerns that need to be aired. we can also add to your list "honor killings."