Free Kareem! - Dr. Ali Mufti: Muslims are free to leave their religion, their fate is with God on Judgment Day

On today’s Al Masry Al Youm (Arabic), Dr. Ali Jum’a Mufti explains that God has given the freedom to all humans to alter their faith, and should they do that their fate awaits them with God on Judgment Day. Dr. Mufti uses certain verses within the Holy Quran to support this argument, “whoever wants to believe shall believe and whoever wants to disbelieve may do so,” as well as “you have your religion and we have ours,” and finally “there’s no hatred in religion.”

Dr. Mufti adds that if a person merely rejects Islam, there is no punishment against that and it should be left in the hands of God. It may only involve the judicial body should that person be actually harmful, an argument not in favor of Egypt’s ruling against Kareem Amer. What Kareem went through is a personal struggle between Him and God, and he is free to believe and express whatever he wants as long as it doesn’t preach violence, which Kareem is also innocent of.

Why, then, did Kareem get sentenced to three years in prison for “insulting” Islam, if the Koran specifically notes that he is free to do so and only God reserves the right and power to punish such person for sinning? Why does the Egyptian government take upon the role of God in this case, punishing whoever it wishes in the name of Islam? We at the Free Kareem Coalition respectfully demand a valid justification on the basis of Kareem’s sentence. Where in the Quran is this action supported? More importantly, where are the rest of the Muslim voices to condemn this grave misrepresentation and injustice?

We are Muslims. Our faith teaches us to live and let live. We are not afraid of criticism as it is normal nor should we allow our governments to play the role of God and make decisions that they don’t have the right to do. Our opinions are our own and we are free to express them, should they be against Islam then the decision is up to God to do as He wishes. The role of the government is to protect us, not imprison those they ideologically disagree with.

We kindly ask the Egyptian government to respect our individual freedoms, if not in the name of humanity, then at the very least in the name of Islam!

Read the article in Arabic here.

COMMENTS

Posted In: Freedom of speech, Human rights, Insulting Islam in Egypt, Kareem, Press

Admin

It seems as though he has reaffirmed his position:

Egypt mufti reaffirms Muslim freedom of faith choice
July 26, 2007

CAIRO -- Egypt's top religious advisor, Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa, reaffirmed his belief Thursday that Muslims could choose their own religion after the local press carried apparently conflicting statements.

Gomaa maintained that while it would be a "grave sin" for Muslims to commit apostasy and convert to another religion, worldly punishment should only be meted out if their actions endangered society.

In many Muslim societies, there is a long-held view - not necessarily supported by scripture - that the punishment for apostasy is death.

"Choice means freedom, and freedom includes the freedom to commit grave sins as long as their harm does not extend to others," he said in a statement, echoing remarks that he made earlier in a Washington Post-Newsweek forum on Islam.

His original remarks were picked up by the press who interpreted them to mean that the second-highest religious authority in Egypt did not mind Muslims converting to another faith, necessitating a statement from the mufti Tuesday condemning apostasy that appeared to contradict his Washington Post remarks.

"Some members of the press and the public understood this statement as a retraction of my position that Islam affords freedom of belief. I have always maintained the legitimacy of this freedom and I continue to do so," he said. "I discussed the fact that throughout history, the worldly punishment for apostasy in Islam has been applied only to those who, in addition to their apostasy, actively engaged in the subversion of society," he said.

The distinction is important as many clerics in the Muslim world have claimed that death is the automatic punishment for apostasy regardless of whether the individual is a threat to society or not.

The controversy around the mufti's opinion highlights a thorny issue in Egypt where religious militants have tried to kill people believed to be apostates - such as famed writer Naguib Mahfouz - or attempted to divorce them from their wives.

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

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

Bahgat is involved with a case of 12 former Christians who converted to Islam and are now trying to revert. Their case goes before the supreme administrative court in September.

Hmmm.

Admin

Thank you for informing us Ahmed, that is extremely unfortunate. It seems as though something very fishy is going on - either there is an actual "campaign" to 'distort' his image which is highly unlikely, or he was threatened to take back his statements, which surely sparked a lot of controversy within the field.

The message we are sending via the post above still stands firmly. Him taking "his word" back doesn't change the true nature of Islam nor the Muslim efforts of this campaign.

Ahmed

للأسف تراجع عن ذلك

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

Top cleric denies 'freedom to choose religion' comment

By Ramadan Al Sherbini, Correspondent
Published: July 24, 2007, 23:05

Cairo: Egypt's top cleric yesterday denied in a statement that he had said a Muslim can give up his faith without punishment.

Ali Goma'a, the mufti of Egypt, was quoted as saying in a posting on a Washington Post-Newsweek forum that Muslims are free to change their faith and this is a matter between an individual and God.

"What I actually said is that Islam prohibits a Muslim from changing his religion and that apostasy is a crime, which must be punished," Goma'a said.

The alleged fatwa coincides with an uproar over the case of 12 Egyptians who converted to Islam from Christianity and now want to re-embrace Christianity.

"There is a campaign by secularists to distort the image of Dr Ali Goma'a," a senior official in Al Azhar told Gulf News.

"He cannot deny punishment in this life for the apostate," said Mustafa Al Chaka of the Islamic Research Centre.