Muslims Can Choose Own Religion

[Mehtab Singh]

http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=89939&news=%60Muslims%20can%20choose%20own%20religion%60&pubDate=Tue%2C+24+Jul+2007+12%3A53%3A28+GMT&keyword=indexp_home

Cairo, July 24: Egypt's official religious advisor has ruled that Muslims are free to change their faith as it is a matter between an individual and God, in a move which could have far-reaching implications for the country's Christians.

"The essential question before us is can a person who is Muslim choose a religion other than Islam? The answer is yes, they can," Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa said in a posting on a Washington Post-Newsweek forum picked up by the Egyptian press.

"The act of abandoning one's religion is a sin punishable by God on the Day of Judgement. If the case in question is one of merely rejecting faith, then there is no worldly punishment," he wrote.

In many Muslim societies, those who convert to another religion are considered apostates and can be subject to capital punishment.

Gomaa said that if the conversions undermine the 'foundations of society' then it must be dealt with by the judicial system, without elaborating.

Attempts by Muslims in Egypt to convert to other religions have been hindered by the state's refusal to recognise the change in official documents and in some cases have led to arrests and imprisonment.

"Even though it is not a criminal offence in Egypt, they get detained under emergency laws or are put on trial for contempt of religion if they wish to convert," said Hossam Bahgat of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights.

"This (ruling) is significant, especially coming from Gomaa," he added. "Between 2004 and now there have been many court cases involving Christian converts to Islam that want to convert back to Christianity who are unable to do so."

[Punjabi_Link]

http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=89939&news=%60Muslims%20can%20choose%20own%20religion%60&pubDate=Tue%2C+24+Jul+2007+12%3A53%3A28+GMT&keyword=indexp_home

Cairo, July 24: Egypt's official religious advisor has ruled that Muslims are free to change their faith as it is a matter between an individual and God, in a move which could have far-reaching implications for the country's Christians.

"The essential question before us is can a person who is Muslim choose a religion other than Islam? The answer is yes, they can," Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa said in a posting on a Washington Post-Newsweek forum picked up by the Egyptian press.

"The act of abandoning one's religion is a sin punishable by God on the Day of Judgement. If the case in question is one of merely rejecting faith, then there is no worldly punishment," he wrote.

In many Muslim societies, those who convert to another religion are considered apostates and can be subject to capital punishment.

Gomaa said that if the conversions undermine the 'foundations of society' then it must be dealt with by the judicial system, without elaborating.

Attempts by Muslims in Egypt to convert to other religions have been hindered by the state's refusal to recognise the change in official documents and in some cases have led to arrests and imprisonment.

"Even though it is not a criminal offence in Egypt, they get detained under emergency laws or are put on trial for contempt of religion if they wish to convert," said Hossam Bahgat of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights.

"This (ruling) is significant, especially coming from Gomaa," he added. "Between 2004 and now there have been many court cases involving Christian converts to Islam that want to convert back to Christianity who are unable to do so."

Umm why are you posting this article on this website? This article has nothing to do with Sikhi.

[S1ngh]

Wow.. that very strange to read such news.... its good step taken by Egypt..

[proactive]

It's a good step if they keep to the ruling. The problem is when these sorts of rulings are purely for the western press. Even in a moderate country like Malaysia there have been cases where Muslims have been imprisoned for converting out. The last case was of a Muslim woman who wanted to become a Hindu and she was sent for 6 months to a re-education camp.

[Mutheeaa]

Don't worry they'll issue fatwas again Egyptian Govt also.................... :wub:

[Shaheed Singh Khalsa]

http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=89939&news=%60Muslims%20can%20choose%20own%20religion%60&pubDate=Tue%2C+24+Jul+2007+12%3A53%3A28+GMT&keyword=indexp_home

Cairo, July 24: Egypt's official religious advisor has ruled that Muslims are free to change their faith as it is a matter between an individual and God, in a move which could have far-reaching implications for the country's Christians.

"The essential question before us is can a person who is Muslim choose a religion other than Islam? The answer is yes, they can," Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa said in a posting on a Washington Post-Newsweek forum picked up by the Egyptian press.

"The act of abandoning one's religion is a sin punishable by God on the Day of Judgement. If the case in question is one of merely rejecting faith, then there is no worldly punishment," he wrote.

In many Muslim societies, those who convert to another religion are considered apostates and can be subject to capital punishment.

Gomaa said that if the conversions undermine the 'foundations of society' then it must be dealt with by the judicial system, without elaborating.

Attempts by Muslims in Egypt to convert to other religions have been hindered by the state's refusal to recognise the change in official documents and in some cases have led to arrests and imprisonment.

"Even though it is not a criminal offence in Egypt, they get detained under emergency laws or are put on trial for contempt of religion if they wish to convert," said Hossam Bahgat of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights.

"This (ruling) is significant, especially coming from Gomaa," he added. "Between 2004 and now there have been many court cases involving Christian converts to Islam that want to convert back to Christianity who are unable to do so."

Umm why are you posting this article on this website? This article has nothing to do with Sikhi.

WaheguruJiKaKhalsa WaheguruJiKiFateh

My Brother, thats a bit of a closed minded approach to life, isn't it. Sikhi is a way of Life so I think any news to do with the goings on in the world and that can benefit Sikhs to understand whats going on around them does have a place on this forum.

I hope you understand where I am coming from and can appreciate the merit of this information.

WaheguruJiKaKhalsa WaheguruJiKiFateh

[Mehtab Singh]

Umm why are you posting this article on this website? This article has nothing to do with Sikhi.

The name of the section is General, so I posted it. A little news or knowledge about other communities/faiths is only informative :wub:

[proactive]

False alarm! The sanity that seemed to have crept into the thinking of Ali Gomaa was either temporary insanity or he was misquoted. Rather than saying 'it's ok for a Muslim to leave Islam and not face any punishment' he really said 'Any Muslim leaving Islam should be punished' an easy mistake to make!!

Top cleric denies 'freedom to choose religion' comment

http://archive.gulfnews.com/region/Egypt/10141696.html

[Punjabi_Link]

http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=89939&news=%60Muslims%20can%20choose%20own%20religion%60&pubDate=Tue%2C+24+Jul+2007+12%3A53%3A28+GMT&keyword=indexp_home

Cairo, July 24: Egypt's official religious advisor has ruled that Muslims are free to change their faith as it is a matter between an individual and God, in a move which could have far-reaching implications for the country's Christians.

"The essential question before us is can a person who is Muslim choose a religion other than Islam? The answer is yes, they can," Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa said in a posting on a Washington Post-Newsweek forum picked up by the Egyptian press.

"The act of abandoning one's religion is a sin punishable by God on the Day of Judgement. If the case in question is one of merely rejecting faith, then there is no worldly punishment," he wrote.

In many Muslim societies, those who convert to another religion are considered apostates and can be subject to capital punishment.

Gomaa said that if the conversions undermine the 'foundations of society' then it must be dealt with by the judicial system, without elaborating.

Attempts by Muslims in Egypt to convert to other religions have been hindered by the state's refusal to recognise the change in official documents and in some cases have led to arrests and imprisonment.

"Even though it is not a criminal offence in Egypt, they get detained under emergency laws or are put on trial for contempt of religion if they wish to convert," said Hossam Bahgat of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights.

"This (ruling) is significant, especially coming from Gomaa," he added. "Between 2004 and now there have been many court cases involving Christian converts to Islam that want to convert back to Christianity who are unable to do so."

Umm why are you posting this article on this website? This article has nothing to do with Sikhi.

WaheguruJiKaKhalsa WaheguruJiKiFateh

My Brother, thats a bit of a closed minded approach to life, isn't it. Sikhi is a way of Life so I think any news to do with the goings on in the world and that can benefit Sikhs to understand whats going on around them does have a place on this forum.

I hope you understand where I am coming from and can appreciate the merit of this information.

WaheguruJiKaKhalsa WaheguruJiKiFateh

Umm why are you posting this article on this website? This article has nothing to do with Sikhi.

The name of the section is General, so I posted it. A little news or knowledge about other communities/faiths is only informative :wub:

if you want to discuss such topics, then it is best you talk about it on some other website.

[Bored]

It's a good step if they keep to the ruling. The problem is when these sorts of rulings are purely for the western press. Even in a moderate country like Malaysia there have been cases where Muslims have been imprisoned for converting out. The last case was of a Muslim woman who wanted to become a Hindu and she was sent for 6 months to a re-education camp.

right on!