Former Muslim United Founder
Nonie Darwish
A new American civil liberties organization has been formed to ensure that ex-Muslims receive full protection from the law and to investigate possible "hate crimes and civil rights violations against apostates from Islam." The organization, Former Muslims United, was founded by prominent ex-Muslim and anti-sharia activists and authors Nonie Darwish and Ibn Warraq, as well as Mohammad Asghar, Dr. Wafa Sultan and my friend Amil Imani.
On September 24, 2009, Former Muslims United will hold a press conference to announce their organization. As their press release says:
At the press conference, Former Muslims United founders Nonie Darwish and Ibn Warraq (both internationally-respected authors and scholars) will release letters calling on the Depart of Justice and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to investigate possible hate crimes and civil rights violations against apostates from Islam, including the circumstances of the current
Florida case of 17-year old Rifqa Bary, a former Muslim. The letters are also signed by Former Muslims United co-founders Mohammad Asghar, Wafa Sultan and Amil Imani. Darwish and Warraq will release the text of Former Muslim United’s groundbreaking “Muslim Pledge for Religious Freedom and Safety from Harm for Former Muslims,” copies of which will be received in the offices of dozens of Muslim leaders across America by September 25, the 220th anniversary of Congress passing the Bill of Rights. They will also distribute a list of the names of this first group of Muslim leaders to be asked to sign the Muslim Pledge. Additional Muslim leaders will be sent the pledge in the next month as the national campaign gets underway. The names of all pledge recipients will be listed at Formermuslimsunited.org.
These ex-Muslims know Islam well, and they can attest to their fears in declaring their apostasy, which is a death sentence under Islamic doctrine. While Darwish discusses her experiences in Egypt and Sultan in Syria, Amil Imani testifies to the atrocious human-rights abuses that have accompanied Islam in his native land of Persia, also known as Iran. Amil writes cutting-edge and honest articles full of facts and truth, reflecting a courageous man who would love to see his beautiful and precious homeland free of this oppression—and Amil is clear that it is Islamic doctrine itself, not "extremism," that is destroying his beloved mother country. As a remedy for this spiritual, psychological, emotional and physical abuse of his people, Amil recognizes the importance of exploring and appreciating his nation's history and pre-Islamic roots, such as the fascinating ancient Persian faith of Zoroastrianism.
This battle between religious fanaticism that traumatizes so many millions of people worldwide for so many centuries and true civilization is being fought largely by courageous freedom fighters such as Former Muslims United, who should be hailed as heroes and great upholders of the American Constitution.
Sources & Further Reading
Former Muslims United
Death for Apostasy in the Koran/Quran
Amil Imani
Freethought Nation News & Commentary
A Truly Sacred Scripture
Comments
Amen!
All cheekiness aside, you bring an important organization to light. Let me know if there is any way I can help (cross promote, etc) because I do believe what you have written here, that there is something fundamentally oppressive, not just in the interpretation, but in the words of certain doctrines.
Again, a courageous column. Bravo!
For these former Muslims to come out and say that they're no longer Muslims is an act of bravery all on its own. They know the consequences of leaving Islam and the battles they will have to face with family and friends, but they still were willing to state their now non-belief in Islam. I applaud them for their courage to come out and state that they are no longer Muslim, and they would like to have some sort of protection.
Thank you, fellow Examiners, for your astute and helpful remarks. It is interesting to note that no one else has commented - are they afraid? Are Examiners a new daring, breed? Fascinating, as my hero Spock would say.
Thank you for writing this article. One quick correction, however. There is a common mis-conception (from some Muslims and non-Muslims alike) that Islam calls for death as a punishment for apostasy. That is simply untrue, and I condemn any action by Muslims to the contrary. Islam does not allow its adherents to force their religion on anybody. And there are several verses from the Quran (the Islamic holy scripture) that prove that there is no concept for punishment for apostasy. A person's decision to be a Muslim or not is a personal matter between them and God.
"There is a common mis-conception (from some Muslims and non-Muslims alike) that Islam calls for death as a punishment for apostasy. That is simply untrue..."
I have heard this apology many times over the many years that I have been studying this subject. So have many other scholars and critics of Islam heard this same apology. Some chalk it up to ignorance, others to the deceitful practice of taqqiya/taqiyya.
Please see the link I have added entitled, "Death for Apostasy in the Koran/Quran.
The fact that these ex-MUSLIMS - who know their original religion very well - felt compelled to send out to numerous Muslim groups an agreement for them NOT to kill apostates proves that it is common knowledge in Islam that apostates should be killed, under Islamic/shariah law.
While I appreciate your sentiment, fallacious apologies and misrepresentations will only serve to cause people to distrust Islam and its representatives even more.
This is a brilliant day for Libeerty and Human Rights!!
But we already see the Islamist apologists trying to make excuses for the Islamic violence and intolerance that we see every single day. For example:
"There is a common mis-conception (from some Muslims and non-Muslims alike) that Islam calls for death as a punishment for apostasy. That is simply untrue."
Oh....really?
How about:
Koran (3:56) - "As to those who reject faith, I will punish them with terrible agony in this world and in the Hereafter, nor will they have anyone to help."
Koran (4:89) - "They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (From what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them"
Bukhari (84:57) - "[In the words of] Allah's Apostle
Muhammed, 'Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him.'"
PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION AND SUPPORT THE GLOBAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST SHARIA LAW
www.onelawforall.org/
www.shariapetition.com/
Dear D.M.,
It is my understanding from Islamic scholars that the traditonal Islamic law concerning apostasy involved treason, which is currently a crime punishable by death in many countries. It is my further understanding that when someone leaves Islam that does not rise to the level of treason. Your article suggests that persecuting ex-Muslims is in accordance with mainstream Islamic thought and that simply is not the case.
"Your article suggests that persecuting ex-Muslims is in accordance with mainstream Islamic thought and that simply is not the case."
Thank you. As I have said previously, I have heard this apology many times over the many years that I have been studying this subject. So have many other scholars and critics of Islam heard this same apology.
Please see the link I have added entitled, "Death for Apostasy in the Koran/Quran.
The fact that these ex-MUSLIMS - who know their original religion very well - felt compelled to send out to numerous Muslim groups an agreement for them NOT to kill apostates proves that it is common knowledge in Islam that apostates should be killed, under Islamic/shariah law. Indeed, it is unquestionable that over the centuries many people HAVE been killed for apostasizing from Islam.
If you were to actually do some research about both Wafa Sultan,Nonie Darwish, you can even add "Brigitte Gabriel". What's common between all these ladies are that they are from Middle East with supposingly some past Muslim background. Nobody can do a real research and give you a formal answer about their background.
The interesting thing is tough when you delve into each of their background, perspective on Islam and most importantly their supporters, you can definitely jump into the conclusion that these people are part of a big network which are trying to emphasize "Jihad" only in terrorist terms, "Women in Islam" only in torturous way. These people are part of big picture "Zionist and Pro-Israel" organizations who are mostly located in New York and Washington with lots of watchdogs, influence and supporters from active jewish communities.
If you research for Darwish, she is listed on "Israel Support Project" website as a person to be interviewed when Netanyahu when he comes to
Islam & Apostasy: No Punishment: http://www.examiner.com/islam-in-columbus/islam-apostasy-no-punishment
These "former Muslims" (usually from Non-Muslim backrounds that come from Muslim majority countries) are part of the multi-billion dollar business of Islamophobia. Apostasy is not a problem in Islam, but may be an issue for uneducated Muslims and Muslim Scholars who have their own political reasons for advocating un-Islamic practices. In all reality, apostasy has no punishment in Islam. I
"Islamophobia" is a word created by Islamists for purposes of stealth jihad. Its use is a sign of a poor intellect. These ex-Muslims have suffered horribly under a violent cult of infidel-hatred and women-enslavement.
You are likewise being dishonest in asserting that death is not the punishment for apostasy. All four major schools of Islamic jurisprudence approve of death for apostasy.
http://sheikyermami.com/2009/08/14/death-for-apostasy-spencer-rips-islam...
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