Imagine the outcry if nine Muslims had been jailed for leaving Christianity. But no one will take any significant notice of this.
In any case, it could have been worse. They could have been sentenced to death. 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.”
“Sentences of nine non-Trinitarian Christians to 45 years in prison,” Mohabat News, December 22, 2019 (thanks to The Religion of Peace):
Mohabat News – Reports from Iran indicate that nine non-Trinitarian Christians were sentenced to five years in prison by the Tehran Revolutionary Court.
On Friday, December 20, 2019, Iran Human Rights Activist News Agency reported that Abdolreza Ali Haghnejad, Mohammad Islam Doust, Behnam Akhlaghi, Babak Hosseinzadeh, Mehdi Khatibi, Khalil Dehghanpour, Hossein Kadivar, Kamal Naemanian, and Mohammad Vafadar Kamal were sentenced by Mohammad Moghiseh, the head of Tehran Revolutionary Court, Branch 28, to a total of 45 years in prison.
The court was held on September 23 and the verdict was announced on October 15.
These Christian converts have objected to the verdict issued by the Tehran Revolutionary Court and are awaiting final appeal.
Babak Hosseinzadeh, Behnam Akhlaqi, and Mehdi Khatibi were arrested earlier in a house church meeting in Rasht on February 23, 2019.
The pressure of the Islamic Republic’s security and judicial institutions on Christians increases on Christmas Eve each year, including mass arrests, heavy sentences, summonses, and interrogations of Christians, the prohibition of religious ceremonies and celebrations as well as their economic activities such as selling Christmas decorations and Christian symbols. The discriminatory behavior of security agencies was imposed this year as well, and the Annual Christmas Bazaar held at Ararat Club near Vanak was closed….
SKA says
“Non-trinitarian Christians?” – only groups I know of are the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Mormons.
Anthony says
Same thought, the term “Non-trinitarian” or “Unitarian” is the heresy of Christianity, and remember that Islam is also unitarian in some sense, don’t really know what the writer is trying to say.
gravenimage says
Anthony, Jehovah’s Witnesses–a very peaceful faith–have *very* little in common with the savagery of Islam.
gravenimage says
Probably Jehovah’s Witnesses. The Watchtower–the official organ of the Jehovah’s Witnesses–no longer keeps public numbers about Iran since 1985 in order to protect members there. But they are indefatigable preachers, and it is know that they are still active in Iran.
I have a few cavils about the Jehovah’s Witnesses, but there is no doubt that these are *very* brave Christians, and that Muslims converting to this peaceful faith are much better people.
Giana Mccarty says
Also many Unitarian Universalist such as myself.
Hugh Fitzgerald says
Those who leave Islam are the most advanced, morally, of all the people in a Muslim country.
gravenimage says
*Very* true, Mr. Fitzgerald.
mortimer says
Those who would leave Islam for the Watchtower have replaced one thought-control cult with another. They have surrendered their minds for a different, though more peaceful, ideology.
To be sure, the Watchtower is benign, having no political agenda. However, Islam is very political. 51% of the foundational Islamic text is about politics, 18% is about Allah and the rest is about Mohammed.
The reason that Islam is so vicious towards kafirs is because it is a political ideology for the emolument of a tiny group of Arabs. The rest of humanity has no political rights since they are defined as the slaves of the caliphal dynasty, and so they must be held down with great force,
gravenimage says
Mortimer, despite my issues with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, I would do nothing but cheer if every Muslim became a Jehovah’s Witness tomorrow.
TKF says
If it wasn’t for force, there would be no such thing as Islam. Why would any sane person want to voluntarily be a member of the vile ideology of Islam?
mortimer says
– “If they had gotten rid of the apostasy punishment, Islam wouldn’t exist today.” – Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi
gravenimage says
So true, TKF and Mortimer.
BMJ says
Actual christians are “non-trinitarian”.
As apostles were.
The trinity is a doctrine of babylon.
Jesus is the Holy Spirit. Not a 3rd entity.
gravenimage says
Actually,BMJ, most Christians are Trinitarian.
Of course, in Christianity you can freely disagree regarding any ideas, even core tenets. Not so with Islam.
Paul says
John 14:16 has Jesus say, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever”.
A straightforward reading of this leads to the conclusion that the Father is one person, the speaker Jesus is another, and this advocate is yet someone or something else. Sounds like the basis for a Trinity to me.
Jesus didn’t say, “And I will ask the Father, and He will send me back to you as an advocate to help you and be with you forever.”
elee says
Why is this permitted to continue?
b.a. freeman says
very simply, it continues because persia is being ruled by a cancerous cult of criminality, sexual predation, and murder. it’s a gangsta cult, by, for, and about pirates. and if anybody thinks that the thugs will give up their power, i invite them to travel to persia and talk with the thugs … and good luck staying alive.
TKF says
How can you tell the difference between a peaceful Muslim and an Allah-Akbar screaming Islamic Jihadi? Until they start exploding, stabbing, shooting, beheading and running innocent people down…….YOU CAN’T.
elee says
EVERY MUSLIM IS A SLEEPER
mortimer says
15% of Muslims self-declare as supporters of a terrorist organization. They are the sleepers. The other 85% have little thought about world conquest. Their faculty of critical thought is switched in the ‘off’ position.
Lilith wept says
Well I believe that those moslems who aren’t active jihadis support the jihadis and Jihad…because , as you say, critical thought is switched off, so moslems won’t think but blindly and without thinking will support other moslems and Islamic doctrine.
Smiling with their lips while hating us in their hearts
So as in the US, the policy is for moslems to wait, not to act ( wage active violent jihad) wait, wait for the day when moslems in the West are strong enough or numerous enough or have some overwhelming advantage over Kuffar and then they can take our possessions and kill us . Until then we have the advantage so moslems wait. And just because they aren’t doing active violent jihad spent mean they aren’t doing jihad so some kind…lawfsre, moslems getting elected to political office ( the better to be in the position to spread islamic influence faster and more intensively and support other moslems so there can be even more moslems in politics, positions of power and influence. ) .
Honestly , I afraid that we will go our with a whimper….that we will keep on being apathetic , believe ing in the fantasy that islam is peaceful and moslems are our friends, or that it’s Islamic Extremists , that are the only violent moslems, a few misguided Moslems that have misunderstood or misinterpreted Islamic texts……
We will allow moslems to increase, keep right on Islamifying the US,changing every aspect of America , making us more and more Islamic and keep on allowing moslems to get elected to positions of power and influence…( That moslems are becoming increasing political , that they obviously see politics as the way to Islamify the US by gaining control of our political process and our leadership, scares the Crap our out me….)
One day we will wake up to find that moslems are in control, that no matter what you want to do, a Moslem is in charge and you need a Moslem to ok or approve whatever it is you need to do…and in charge of police, goverment and military….so no rebellion, no fighting back against Islam , no shooting war……Moslems will be in control of literally everything so any rebellion would be easily crushed….
This is the Muslim Brotherhood plan, the Civilization Jihad ( or as Robert Spencer wrote about “ Stealth Jihad” …)
This is happening right now, everywhere in the US . This is what moslems are doing in the US instead of the active violent terrorism type of jihad…..and this Civilization Jihad is very difficult to combat.
Especially with the liberal left ( islam apologists) aganda that supports moslems and their process of spreading Islamic influence through our the US, from schools, to laws , to customs and traditions, to politics , to police …and on and on, every aspect of our lives is being infiltrated by moslems and subjected to Islamification.
If we could elect more politicians who would stand up against islam and the bullying of groups like CAIR, get the Muslim Brotherhood declared a terrorist organization and make sure that any organization ( like CAIR) or Moslem with ties to the MB is deported, or prosecuted …and most importantly to publicly expose and challenge the Great Lie that “ Islam is the religion of peace” and “ it’s just a few moslem extremists misunderstanding and hijacking an peaceful Islam” and declaring the truth….that Islam is not peaceful. That Islam’s texts, it’s core , mainstream doctrine is inherently violent, supremist and expansionist.
We need politicians, leaders to acknowledge that Islam is not just another religion, it is not like ANY other religion in the US, it’s dangerous, and because of its violence, in tolerance to all non moslems and it’s doctrine of Islamic supremacy and dominance , it’s doctrine that demands that moslems take over any and all non moslems countries , and make them Islamic countries , that Islam is a threat and a danger to the constitution and democracy.
And take actions to support that islam is a danger and a threat to the US…
I’m not sure what could be done to limit Islam in the US , but we desperately need to do something ….and do it fast …or we will get to a point where we can’t do anything , or that nothing we do will be effective.
Terry Gain says
There is no rational basis to believe these surveys. The doctrine is quite clear. Muslims have a legal obligation to spread Islam by any means necessary until the whole world is Muslim. Are you suggesting that 85% of Muslims don’t know the core tenets of their “religion”?
gravenimage says
Agree with Lilith and Terry here. Very few Muslims condemn Jihad, because this is a core part of Islam.
WPM says
The so called” peaceful Moslem ” would do nothing to stop ,inform authorities, corporate with authorities when one of his other “peaceful Moslems” goes Jihad .The tribe mentality trumps any corporation with those outside the tribe ,the” peaceful Moslems” puts himself into the “victim” bracket to avoid condemning the Jihadist and excusing his bad behavior(the Jihadist) at the same time painting the victims of Jihad as provokers ,racists, or some how they ask for it by their mere being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
gravenimage says
+1
gravenimage says
Islamic Republic of Iran: Nine Christians sentenced to prison for leaving Islam
………………
Just awful–these *poor men*. Yes, ti could have been worse–they might have received the death penalty. But they still may if they don’t convert back to Islam.
There is no freedom of conscience under Islam.
Michael Copeland says
The Egyptian sheikh Yassir al-Burhani makes this clear in an interview:
For example, is it the right of the Muslim to convert to Christianity or another religion?
“Of course this is not a right.”
(JihadWatch.org 1 June 2012)
https://gatesofvienna.net/2019/05/farages-fatal-flaw/
gravenimage says
So true, Michael.
Relic says
Imagine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP5ElraFHHE
Crusades Were Right says
In Iran they celebrate Christmas with Midnight Mass…
…ARRESTS!
No Muzzies Here says
It must be a real horrible religion if it kills or jails anyone who wants to leave it! How many Muslims would leave this repressive cult of death if they didn’t risk being beaten, jailed or murdered?
Terry Gain says
A sine qua non of any legitimate religion is freedom of conscience. Islam is a death cult.
gravenimage says
Terry there have been evil religions before, as you know.
OLD GUY says
And the liberal left coddles islam and the muslim dream of supremacy. Islam is the religion of hate, death and total control of men, women and children.
x says
Christians in an Iranian jail?
They did receive the death sentence.
gravenimage says
Grimly likely, Christians in Muslim jails have said before that guards encourage Musli
m felons to abuse them.
Walter Sieruk says
Those Muslim clerics the ayatollahs, mullahs and imams and other in power in this Islamic tyranny need to distracted the Iranian people with an “enemy “ to hate Christians and Christianity and thus scheme how brutally oppressed and persecute them by the use of though Islamic state “police” who are the brutal gang of ruffians of who are called the “revolutionary Guard” of this “mullah regime “ of Iran.
Those malice -filled and hateful Muslim clerics of that Islamic tyranny Iran along with the other Islamic stooges who rule Iran “cannot be counted” to make any chances for the better . The ayatollahs and mullahs in their likeminded Muslim partners in total governmental control of Iran are very anti- female m as in extremely misogynistic and oppressive ruthless to both girls and woman as well as all of the Iranian people who are trapped in forced to existed in this diabolical Islamic regime. As it is written in Proverbs 15:15. “All the days of the oppressed are wretched.” And Proverbs 29:: 2 reads “When the wicked rule the people groan.” Likewise, Ecclesiastes 4:1 reads “ I saw the tears of the oppressed – and they have no comforter; power was in the side of the oppressors …”
Furthermore ,Proverbs 28:15 very well describes such wicked characters who rule Iran as president Rouhani and ayatollah Khamenei . For it reads “Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.” Furthermore, such a vicious mindset of heinous arrogance of Rouhani, Khamenei and the other hateful and spiteful Islamic clerics in this “mullah regime” of Iran is reflected in the words from the Bible describing tyrannical villains in power of an oppressive regime. For Psalm 73:6—9 read “Therefore pride is their necklace:: they clothe themselves with violence. From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil ;their evil imaginations have no limits. They scoff and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression. Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.”
Walter Sieruk says
Concerning the subject of the arrest and imprisonment of Christians of Iran further expose the intolerant brutal and murderous “mullah regime “ of Iran
First, it would be naive not to understand the those mullahs and ayatollahs didn’t have a hand in having their stooges , who are Islamic state police, the Revolutionary Guard s arrest many Christians because those in power in the Islamic tyranny are ruthless and cruel.
Second, this is further proof that Islam is such a weak and fragile religion that the arrest of those few Christians was felt necessary by the ayatollah, mullah and imams of Iran. For those Muslim clerics are afraid that if the Iranian people even have a chance to examine and thus compare and contrast the Bible and the Quran the people of Iran might discover that the Bible of the super of those two books.
Since the foundation for the tyrannical regime of the Islamic “Republic” of Iran is based on the Quran, which is also the entire foundation for of Islam, the Muslim clerics fear that their power base might collapse. So the arrests and sentencing to death of Christians reveals extreme fear those Muslim clerics have of the Bible, For this also show that those Muslim clerics in power in that “mullahs regime” of Iran will use .the Islamic state police and their tools to stop Christians and keep the Iranian people in in ignorance of the Bible and in the darkness of Islam.
Third, those mullahs and ayatollahs and imams of Iran with their falsehoods and deceptions of the many false doctrines of Islam in which they brainwash the Iranian people in believing is something that is both sad and tragic. Those ayatollahs and mullahs are, no doubt, just as deluded as the people who they thoroughly indoctrinate with false teachings of Islam. Of such demonic deception by false teachers who are also deluded such men a have been predicted in the Bible. For in the Bible it’s written that “Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived.” Second Timothy 3:13. [K.J.V.] All those mullahs and ayatollahs are, according to the doctrines of the Bible, Isaiah 8:20. false religious teachers .Meaning false teachers who teach and indoctrinate the false doctrines of the false religion of Islam into the hearts and minds of others . Such false teachers are described in the Bible ,in Second Peter 2:1. “There were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privately shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”
In addition, it should be make clear that in the context and meaning of the above Bible verse Second Peter 2:1. The word “destruction” does not mean “loss of being but loss of well-being ,as the destruction of well- being . That is “going to ruin” by ending up and a terrible place of awful suffering which the Bible call hell, Luke 16:19-31.
JLD says
https://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/3-17.htm
Verse plain as day calls Jesus the comforter. The Spirit.