After this post, I decided to write to Umar Lee (with whom I’ve had some interaction in the past) and ask for an interview. Here is our exchange, in which he endorses the death penalty for apostasy in principle, just not at the moment in America. At very least, his honesty about Islamic teaching is a refreshing departure from the deceptions and diversions of Honest Ibe Hooper, Brave Ahmed Rehab, and their ilk:
1. Spencer to Umar Lee:
Umar
How you doing? It’s been a long time. I hope you’re well.
I’ve read your post on Muslims in the military with great interest, and am posting about it now at Jihad Watch.
Would you be up for an interview with me on this and related issues?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Your friend as ever,
Robert Spencer
2. Umar Lee to Spencer:
Mr. Spencer, i do not have time to grant interviews at this time. Regarding my position on muslims in the military i stand by the fatawa posted on my blog and that is why i encorage all muslims in america to not join. My feelings on the ft hood shooting and brother nidal hassan will be in the next edition of muslim quarterly magazine in an article titled why the fort got hood.
3. Spencer to Umar Lee:
Thanks for your kind and informative note. I respect the fact that you base your position on Sharia norms as delineated by the Qur’an and Sunnah. In line with that, I was wondering about what you thought on a tangential but related matter: in light of all the publicity that the Rifqa Bary case has gotten, and the many statements by Muslim leaders in the U.S. denying that Islam mandates death for apostates, do you uphold the traditional death penalty for apostasy as taught by Muhammad and by all the madhahib?
Thanks and regards
Robert
4. Umar Lee to Spencer:
Im not that up on that case. What i do know is we live in a very imoral society and teens are bombarded with negative messages. Any teen girl who is not a serial fornicator is seen as square and if she has good muslim parents making sure she is not acting like a ho she may rebel. I am not a scholar but the ruling on apostacy is clear. In an ideal world the apostate would face death but there is no authority to implement the shariah in america so no she shouldnt be killed and besides this girl may very well be making the whole thing up.