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 Sunni hadith depicts Muhammad saying: “Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him” (Bukhari 9.84.57). This is not just a Sunni idea; 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.”
“Moroccan Christians repeatedly arrested,” by Engy Magdy and John Newton, Independent Catholic News, July 17, 2020 (thanks to The Religion of Peace):
Converts to Christianity in Morocco have been repeatedly arrested by police as part of a campaign clamping down on the Faith.
Jawad Elhamidy, president of the Moroccan Association of Rights and Religious Liberties, told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that Christian converts have been arrested up to three times a week and subjected to harassment while at police stations.
Most are released after interrogation – but are often put under pressure to return to Islam, and face abuse when they refuse.
Mr Elhamidy said: “The penal code holds that all Moroccans are Muslims, so those who convert to Christianity face legal problems, beside threats to their security.”
He added that it is even more dangerous for Christian converts when allegations of blasphemy are made -Christians have been held for several days and there have been incidents of violence.
The human rights activist said that police have also threatened spouses and children with arrest.
Mr Elhamidy told the story of Mohamed Al Moghany, a Muslim convert to Christianity from Al Hajeb city, whose employer had waved a gun at him and threatened to kill him.
When Mr Al Moghany filed a complaint with police, he was told not to speak about his conversion and threats were made against his family.
Six months later, following an argument with his employer, he was arrested and sentenced to six months in prison. His wife was interrogated as well….
J Morgan says
When Muslims rule they aim to make life unbearable for Christians and other religions. Here we are in the west, foolishly warmly welcoming these tyrants. The USA should be offering amnesty/ refuge to the many Christians that are under threat from Islam. They would probably be grateful and assimilate well, unlike Muslims.
Mike says
the only people they fear are Jews
Jews have welcomed Muslim only to be shit on every time
When Jews get there heads out of there back side will they deal with the wacko ones
There are a great deal of Muslims that live in Jewish area and have nice lives
Only don’t tell the radical Muslims they will kill there own kind for just talking to any Jews
Rob Schwartzman says
IIRC, about 5000 Jews remain in Morocco, clustered mainly 3 or 4 cities, down from a peak many years ago of possibly 300,000. Most emigrated to Israel, France, Canada, or the USA. The remaining Jews there are reasonably safe and protected…. as long as they proclaim fealty to the monarchy.
gravenimage says
Jews like Christians are always at risk in Morocco.
mortimer says
Moroccan Muslims CONFIRM WITH PRIDE that Islam is the MOST INTOLERANT RELIGION.
mortimer says
What will the pope do now? Is he ‘saddened’ again?
We can hope that such bad news will encourage the pope to stop being spontaneous in his pronouncements and that he will in future consult with real Islamic experts. The RCC has many who are well-informed on Islam. The pope has no excuse to make so many blunders in his various erroneous remarks on the topic of Islam.
Merri-joy says
Mortimer, I agree +1
Merri-joy says
Christianity was well established many centuries before Muhammad saw an Angel in a cave – NO WITNESSES!
Tony Naim says
Let’s not forget the 2 Danish women tourists who were killed (beheaded) there a year ago. The same rules apply in all Arab countries not only Morocco. Part of Islamic Sharia and the laws of Dhimmitude. 4 Islamic centers of jurisprudence continue to enforce the strict application of these rules to the indifference of the west: Al-Azhar in Egypt and the Mufti of Mecca ( in Sunni Islam), The Imams of Qom-Iran and Najaf-Iraq (in Shi’a Islam).
These 4 centers is where all the effort of our government ought to be pointed at.
10 million American Muslims follow the teachings of these centers, to the letter.
Americans can never be safe here in the homeland without the abolition of religious discrimination emanating from the teaching and preaching in of all 4 centers. The one and only prerequisite to end the war on Terror ( which is actually a jihad war from the Islamic perspective) and the legitimization of Israel in the Middle East as a Jewish state.
Any amount of treasure spent or lives lost by any administration in the US and its policy that does not aim at the abolition of discriminatory Islamic teachings can only be characterized by 2 words: plain STUPID and IGNORANT.
gravenimage says
Grimly true.
mortimer says
Morocco … a country of BIGOTS.
gravenimage says
Morocco: ‘Penal code holds that all Moroccans are Muslims, so converts to Christianity face threats’
…………..
And remember, Morocco is supposed to be a “moderate” Muslim country.
OLD GUY says
Muslims and islam is a dangerous threat to the free world. Given the opportunity islam will dictate life on earth with a dictatorship based on a “religious ” ideology that allows no other belief or religion to exist. Islam promotes the muslim super race ideology with all others being indebted to them or enslaved by them, Hitler had the same idea. The difference today from Hitler’s attempt is that Muslims are invading the free world through the act of a migration invasion of their enemies countries. Open borders are a dangerous plan for any country that wishes to protect its heritage, religious freedoms or freedom loving life style.