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. The late Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who was once the most renowned and prominent Muslim cleric in the world, 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.”
“Pastors Wounded in Separate Attacks in Uganda,” Morning Star News, November 29, 2022:
Pastor Beaten, Church Building Razed
In Katantala village, Kiboga District, in the Buganda Region northwest of Kampala, Muslim extremists on Nov. 8 beat a pastor and demolished his VOSO (Voluntary Salvation Outreach) Church of Christ building for leading 23 Muslims to Christ in August, said Pastor Agaba Ezera.
The conversions took place after church members visited homes to share the gospel on Aug. 14-17, he said.
“This angered Muslims, and they came and attacked the church on Nov. 8 at about 8 p.m., while we were in the evening fellowship,” Pastor Ezera told Morning Star News. “From out of nowhere, people came shouting and chanting Islamic words as if they were going to attend Eid prayers. They started beating us and pushing the church building down, as well as pulling off the iron sheets.”
Some church members fled from the church site in Katantala village, 27 kilometers (16 miles) from Kiboga town, he said.
“I was beaten badly with blunt objects, but glory be to the Lord Jesus because I survived though they thought that they had killed me,” Pastor Ezera said from his hospital bed. “This incident happened because of our evangelistic activities in the Muslim community of Katantala and Kapapali villages.”
The pastor, who sustained leg, back, arm and head injuries, said he recalled one of the assailants saying, “You brought kafiri [infidels] here and converted our elderly woman by giving her salt and soup – you must die today.”
Police said investigations were under way….
Deodata says
One day, hopefully, there will be an article saying that there was a reaction and positive action that repelled these attacks by these barbarians. Then I woke up, and the truth became obvious, western leaders don’t care.