CBC doesn’t say why Rahaf is receiving threats, or from whom. But it’s clear. The death penalty for apostasy is part of Islamic law. It’s based on the Qur’an: “They wish you would disbelieve as they disbelieved so you would be alike. So do not take from among them allies until they emigrate for the cause of Allah. But if they turn away, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them and take not from among them any ally or helper.” (Qur’an 4:89)
A hadith depicts Muhammad saying: “Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him” (Bukhari 9.84.57). The death penalty for apostasy is part of Islamic law according to all the schools of Islamic jurisprudence.
This is still the position of all the schools of Islamic jurisprudence, both Sunni and Shi’ite. Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the most renowned and prominent Muslim cleric in the world, has stated: “The Muslim jurists are unanimous that apostates must be punished, yet they differ as to determining the kind of punishment to be inflicted upon them. The majority of them, including the four main schools of jurisprudence (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, and Hanbali) as well as the other four schools of jurisprudence (the four Shiite schools of Az-Zaidiyyah, Al-Ithna-‘ashriyyah, Al-Ja’fariyyah, and Az-Zaheriyyah) agree that apostates must be executed.”
Qaradawi also once famously said: “If they had gotten rid of the apostasy punishment, Islam wouldn’t exist today.”
“Saudi teen granted asylum in Canada gets 24-hour security amid online threats,” by Andrea Janus, CBC, January 15, 2019:
A Saudi teen who fled alleged abuse by her family considers herself “one of the lucky ones” now that she has arrived as a refugee in Canada, but the agency tasked with getting her settled has still arranged 24-hour security for her in the wake of online threats.
Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, 18, arrived in Toronto on the weekend as a government-sponsored refugee, after taking to social media to allege abuse at the hands of her father. She said she was also fleeing attempts to force her into an arranged marriage.
After locking herself in a Bangkok hotel room and tweeting details of her plight, including fears of what would happen to her if she returned to her family in Saudi Arabia, Canada permitted her entry as a government-sponsored refugee, acting on a United Nations request.
Since arriving in Canada, she has dropped her last name, instead using Mohammed, saying her family has disowned her.
Mohammed’s public campaign, which was covered widely by international media, has also led to online threats against her, according to COSTI, the agency contracted by the federal government to help refugees, including Mohammed, get settled in Toronto. So steps have been taken to ensure there is someone with her at all times, be it an agency staffer or a private security guard.
It’s hard to say how serious the threats are, Mario Calla, executive director of COSTI, told reporters Tuesday morning.
But, Calla said, “we are taking these seriously because she’s our responsibility and so we want to be sure she’s protected.”
Without offering details about what round-the-clock security will cost — other than to say it’s “not a great amount” — Calla said either the federal government or COSTI will foot the bill.
But he said it’s “not unusual” for the agency to hire private security for refugees. There are about two “urgent protection” cases each year in which the government will expedite a refugee claim and ensure that person has extra security….