Islam, The Religion of Peace and Understanding

What happens when someone in the United States decides to convert from one religion to another? Essentially: they do it. You won't read about it in the newspaper or see it on TV (with some exceptions; perhaps Cassius Clay, Cat Stevens, Lou Alcindor). It becomes a matter of personal choice and that is where the issue ends. Christian, Jew, Buddhist, Hindu or Muslim, it makes no difference.

Or does it?

In Islam, the religion of peace and understanding, conversion can get you killed.

Oh gosh BZ, you say, that cannot be true. That's merely an old tale perpetuated by persons wishing to smear the good religion of Islam.

I would beg to differ: it is true. Consider the following story currently in the news involving Afghan President Hamid Karzai and a man named Abdul Rahman:

German Chancellor Angela Merkel telephoned Afghan President Hamid Karzai Thursday to express her concern about the case of an Afghan man who could be sentenced to death for converting to Christianity.

The trial of Abdul Rahman, who converted from Islam to Christianity 16 years ago and who has previously lived in Germany, has triggered growing criticism around the world.

The criticism has now grown to the point that:

An Afghan Christian facing possible execution for converting from Islam was likely to be released from jail "soon," a senior government official said following huge Western pressure over the case.

Arrested two weeks prior, 41-year-old Abdul Rahman had converted from Islam 16 years ago but was "turned in" by his parents when he returned to Afghanistan recently.

Afghanistan's Supreme Court said Thursday it was trying to find a "good solution" to the case, the first of its kind here, including persuading Rahman to revert to Islam.

Sharia law, on which the Afghan constitution is partly based, rules that conversion away from Islam must be punished by death if the accused person fails to revert.

Even US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called Afghan President Hamid Karzai today, to try to stop the possible execution.

Ah yes, Islam, the religion of peace and understanding.

BZ