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Conversion from Islam to Christianity is an insult to Islam, according to the Egyptian authorities. Islamic Tolerance Alert from Compass Direct:
A Muslim sheikh jailed in Egypt for 18 months has declared from his prison cell that he is under arrest for “insulting Islam” by becoming a Christian.Egypt’s secret police transferred Bahaa el-Din Ahmed Hussein el-Akkad, 57, to the Wadi el-Natroun Prison last month. He was told he would remain there indefinitely unless he agreed to work as a government informer against other converts to Christianity.
According to the prisoner’s Cairo attorney, Athanasius William, his client remains incarcerated in this desert prison “only because he has chosen a different belief, to be a Christian.”
El-Akkad was imprisoned without charges for more than a year after officials of the State Security Investigation (SSI) arrested him in Cairo on April 6, 2005.
Although subjected to repeated interrogations, the former Muslim was never told the specific accusations against him. But several of his cellmates spread rumors that he was converting and baptizing people into Christianity, sparking verbal abuse and at least one severe beating from a fellow prisoner.
When the courts finally ordered El-Akkad’s release from provisional detention 10 weeks ago, SSI authorities deliberately ignored the ruling. Instead, they held him in their Gaber Ibn Hayyan office in Giza and then transferred him to the Wadi el-Natroun Prison, located 60 miles north of Cairo along the highway to Alexandria.
William told Compass it was strictly illegal for the SSI to have re-arrested El-Akkad and jailed him indefinitely “without the orders of a legally authorized official,” as required under Article 280 of the Egyptian penalty laws.
Disillusioned with Islam
In a series of handwritten notes smuggled out of prison in recent months and obtained by Compass, El-Akkad declared that he had “chosen the Christian faith” after years of research on Islam.
For more than 20 years, the former sheikh was a member of the fundamentalist Islamic group Tabligh and Da’wa, which actively proselytized non-Muslims but strictly opposed violence. He also led a mosque community in Al-Haram, in the Giza area adjacent to Cairo. In 1994 he had published, Islam: the Religion, a 500-page book reviewing the traditional beliefs of the Islamic faith.
But he became disillusioned, and five years ago the sheikh said he began to pray that he could somehow know God personally. It was not until January 2005 that he talked for the first time with someone who explained the tenets of the Christian faith to him. He began intensive study of Christian Scripture, and within weeks he became a follower of Jesus.
“This is a proof to all Muslims,” El-Akkad wrote, “that the person who studies the two religions from an objective and serious perspective will choose the Christian approach.”...
Although Egypt’s Christian citizens are free to embrace Islam and obtain legal Muslim identities, Muslim citizens are not allowed to change their religious identity. Those who become Christians are subjected to severe harassment by the SSI, which often arrests converts for either insulting Islam or “threatening national security.”
Posted by Robert at October 21, 2006 12:05 AM
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How about trading that blind sheikh that Lynne Stewart was defending to Egypt in exchange for this guy? I'm sure the police there would like to finish the job on him that they were deprived of when he became a "refugee". We can even throw in Stewart for good measure. Everyone comes out ahead in this deal.
Posted by: ISLAMSFORLOSERS![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/nav-commenters.gif)
at October 21, 2006 12:10 AM
Now that is what I call a courageous man. May God give him strength and continued courage to face this difficult situation.
Posted by: Mo at October 21, 2006 1:21 AM
ISLAMSFORLOSERS
I like your idea of deals - right up my alley.
Posted by: Infidel Pride at October 21, 2006 1:34 AM
Yes, he is a very courageous man. He is not denying that he has become a Christian, and in fact he is showing the way with his comments. Once Islam is exposed because it is a lie, any right minded Muslim, who abhors violence must be inclined to leave Islam forever.
This case highlights the danger for all Muslim converts. Muslims are not free to convert to Christianity. If they convert, they are imprisoned, just like the early Christians face imprisonment and slaughter at the hands of others.
He is a shining example to all Christians, and hopefully an example to Muslims who want to leave Islam.
Posted by: Maggie4Life at October 21, 2006 1:37 AM
five years ago the sheikh said he began to pray that he could somehow know God personally
That just about sums it all up. That Islam keeps His children away from God, because once they know Him, they realise how false the teachings of the Koran are.
If we do nothing else (and there is plenty that can be done) we must pray for this man and all others.
at October 21, 2006 7:04 AM
A weak religion will show its insecurity when one of its members convert to another religion.
At its inner core Islam is a weak religion that reserves cruelty for maintaining religious cohesion.
Muhammad's advice to kill former Muslims:
Volume 4, Book 52, Number 260:
Narrated Ikrima:
Ali burnt some people and this news reached Ibn 'Abbas, who said, "Had I been in his place I would not have burnt them, as the Prophet said, 'Don't punish (anybody) with Allah's Punishment.' No doubt, I would have killed them, for the Prophet [Muhammad] said, 'If somebody (a Muslim) discards his religion, kill him.' "
U.S. gives a tremendous amount of aid money to Egypt: 50 billion in aid since 1979. Can you believe it?
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0412/p07s01-wome.html
http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/31987.pdf
I object to U.S. aid given to Egypt, an Islamic fundamentalist country that jails Muslim converts to Christianity and intimidates the dwindling Christian Coptic community.
http://www.persecution.org/suffering/countryinfodetail.php?countrycode=7
Posted by: Johnathan at October 21, 2006 11:00 AM
I just sent this story to everyone on my email list. Also, for Americans here at DW/JW, call your two Senators and your representative. Tell them that you want them to demand the Egyptian government free Sheikh El-Akkad and that future aid to Egypt be tied to cases like this.
Also ask why the US, which lets in thousands of Saudis and other potential terrorists, does not grant asylum to Christians who want to immigrate from Islamic countries.
Posted by: Provoslavni at October 21, 2006 12:36 PM
Have Mercy,
See if one of your senators or your congressman can intervene on his behalf. This is is best chance. Even if your senators are liberal democrats, you might still get help by playing the human rights angle. If your fortunate enough to have a senator like Rick Santorum, Jeff Sessions or someone else not on the Saudi payroll, your chances are even better.
Also, like rats, the federal gestapos don't like to be in the light. Find a friendly reporter to cover the case. Also, get church groups involved! The US has 12 million illegals, and 10s of thousands of potential terrorists, but our Feds want to go after people like this!
Posted by: Provoslavni at October 21, 2006 3:21 PM
In Isaiah, it is written "Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands." May we see the lands of Egypt and Mesopotamia turn to Christ in our lifetimes.
This Sheikh is the tip of the iceberg. There's a lot more Los vom Islam than meets the eye.
Posted by: Kepha at October 21, 2006 7:35 PM
Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (Mt 16:24)
In the west, it rarely costs us anything of real consequence to confess Christ. In most of the world--we can see that Jesus' words really mean something--because a cross ends up with the one carrying it being crucified on it. Like those 2 faithful men who were arrested last Sunday and tortured to death on Tuesday in Eritrea, this persecution of this Egyptian "baby Christian"--Sunday School teacher shows--- naming the glorious NAME costs something!
We need to pay attention--our turn is coming. I am all for fighting the Islamists and other satanic systems--but the fact is that we will have our turn to "stand" or back down. If Jesus matters to you, you will have to stand.
"You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17All men will hate you because of me. 18But not a hair of your head will perish. 19By standing firm you will gain life.
(Lk 21:16-17)
at October 22, 2006 1:04 AM
Have Mercy,
I'm praying for your friend and offering today's mass up for him that God will keep him safe.
Posted by: Isabellathecrusader at October 22, 2006 1:08 AM
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