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by Frank Jacob; Source: BF News, office@stannesdamascus.org [News] Facing the apostasy law in the United States? : The case of Rifqa Bary:
 Do converts from Islam face real danger, even within their own family? This question lies at the heart of a legal situation that developed in public view over the last week, gaining substantial if not unprecedented media attention within the United States. The future of Rifqa Bary, a 17-year old young woman who fled from her family under threat of harm from her father after she converted from Islam to Christianity, is now being decided in U.S. courts. Facing the prospect of being forcibly returned to her father by order of the state, Rifqa was instead awarded a temporary reprieve by a Florida judge in a hearing last Friday. Stating concern for her safety, Circuit Judge Daniel Dawson ruled that Rifqa should not be returned against her will, but may stay with a foster family in Florida until the next scheduled hearing (September 3rd at 2:30 pm in Orlando, FL). Rifqa testified that she was threatened by her father after he discovered that she had become a Christian. She fled from her Ohio home in mid-July and received refuge from a church family in Florida, who were the first to publicly stand by her as she plead to legal authorities and all who would listen for her safety and her freedom.
“They have to kill me. My blood is now halal, which means that because I’m now a Christian, I’m from a Muslim background, it’s an honor. If they love God more than me, they have to do this… And I’m fighting for my life. You guys don’t understand… they don’t understand (sobbing…)” – Rifqa Bary Rifqa’s story has been the focus of increasing media attention, which inevitably centers upon the veracity of her assertions that she, as an apostate from Islam, faces certain danger. While much of the major media attention either ignored the story or sought to frame it as something of doubtful concern or engineered outrage, other news coverage allowed Rifqa to speak for herself, and to identify the real danger she faces as an apostate from Islam, even within the United States. Thankfully, Rifqa’s situation is no longer a hidden matter, as is the case with the vast majority of these situations throughout the world. Rifqa's story is one of the few windows that most Americans (including many Christians) have upon the reality of the apostasy law within Islam and its prevalence within Muslim communities throughout the world. News stories involving apostasy are rarely reported, and, when one is, it most often is in the aftermath of a killing, with a silent victim. While its status is entirely clear within Islamic law and history, the apostasy law is regarded by most in the Western political, media, judicial, and academic establishment as an opaque matter that, with regard to the Islamic religion, is an aberration. The difference in the case of Rifqa is that the would-be victim is alive and warning us of the imminent danger, explaining exactly what the situation is and why such killings take place. The Islamic Law of Apostasy Despite the unmistakable clarity and terrifying nature of Rifka’s plea, and the confirmed reports of violence against converts taking place, many people, including Christians, remain skeptical that what Rifqa faces is real.
The right to religious freedom, including the right of individuals to change their religion, is taken for granted by most people in the West. But in Islam people are only free to change from a non-Islamic faith to Islam; they are not free to change in the opposite direction. All schools of shari‘a (Islamic law) agree that adult male Muslims who leave their faith should be killed, and most of them also hold the same punishment for women. In line with this view, the majority of Muslim scholars past and present hold that apostasy from Islam is a crime carrying the God-prescribed penalty of death. Likewise, for most ordinary Muslims today, across the spectrum of beliefs and ideologies, apostasy carries shocking and dreadful associations as a most abhorrent sin. In 2007, a study found that 36% of British Muslims aged between 16 and 24 believed that those who convert from Islam to another religion should be punished by death. Even for modernist and secularist Muslims apostasy carries negative ideas of treason against one’s community. Apostates are viewed as traitors, bringing great shame on their families and communities. This attitude explains why so few Muslim voices are ever raised in defense of those accused of apostasy. What you can do In support of voices such as Rifqa’s, and the many others who are not heard, Barnabas Aid is running a campaign that seeks to bring an end to the Islamic apostasy law. Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, International Director, says, “Although only Muslim leaders can make this happen, we as Christians can help the process, by speaking up for freedom of religion and belief and by encouraging others to do the same. We ask you to join us in our efforts and prayers to bring about change for those who choose to leave their Islamic faith, so that they are no longer subject to any penalty but are free to follow their new convictions without fear.”
Please help Rifka and the thousands of others like her all over the world, by working to end the apostasy law. The paramount and enduring effort of Barnabas Aid is ministering to those persecuted because of their faith in Jesus, and few are more in need of our support than brothers and sisters who have left all to follow Him. To learn more* about the “apostasy law” and what you can do to as part of Barnabas Aid’s campaign to end it, please visit our website at www.barnabasaid.org and click on the “Why should they be secret?” section. Please consider signing the petition calling for the end of the apostasy law. We appreciate your prayer support, and for sharing your concern about this matter with others in your church and community. *Two very relevant articles are available on the website, “Islamic Teaching on the Consequence of the apostasy Law” and “The Application of the Apostasy Law in the World Today”. To help Rifka’s situation, you may also consider relaying your concerns to reporters and media, and to the appropriate government officials. The latter may include: Governor Charlie Crist Phone: (850) 488-7146
Fax (850) 487-0801
George H. Sheldon, Secretary
The Florida Department of Children and Families
1317 Winewood Blvd.
Building 1, Room 202
Tallahassee, Florida
Fax: (850) 922-2993
Sen. Bill Nelson
716 Senate Hart Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Phone: 202-224-5274 Fax: 202-228-2183 Sen. Mel Martinez
356 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-3041
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