The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) says the manÂ’s conversion is a personal matter not subject to the intervention of the state.

SEE: Afghan Christian Could Face Death http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/22/world/main1428951.shtml

In its statement, CAIR said:

“Islamic scholars say the original rulings on apostasy were similar to those for treasonous acts in legal systems worldwide and do not apply to an individual’s choice of religion. Islam advocates both freedom of religion and freedom of conscience, a position supported by verses in the Quran, Islam’s revealed text, such as:

1) ‘If it had been the will of your Lord that all the people of the world should be believers, all the people of the earth would have believed! Would you then compel mankind against their will to believe?Â’ (10:99) 2) ‘(O Prophet) proclaim: ‘This is the Truth from your Lord. Now let him who will, believe in it, and him who will, deny it.’Â’ (18:29) 3) ‘If they turn away from thee (O Muhammad) they should know that We have not sent you to be their keeper. Your only duty is to convey My message.Â’ (42:48) 4) ‘Let there be no compulsion in religion.Â’ (2:256)

“Religious decisions should be matters of personal choice, not a cause for state intervention. Faith imposed by force is not true belief, but coercion. Islam has no need to compel belief in its divine truth. As the Quran states: ‘Truth stands out clear from error. Therefore, whoever rejects evil and believes in God has grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks.’ (2:256)

“We urge the government of Afghanistan to order the immediate release of Mr. Abdul Rahman.”

Before issuing its statement, CAIR consulted with members of the Fiqh Council of North America, an association of Islamic legal scholars that interprets Muslim religious law.

CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 32 offices, chapters and affiliates nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

No one is asking the Muslims to convert, but if they cannot respect others’ beliefs, they will not be welcome here. This is not negotiable.

Eddie, my bad. I agree with ur thoughts.

RC, that documentary on PBS was awesome. I do remember seeing it.

Universalist Sufis aren’t considered muslims by other muslims.

Eddie, I do not agree with holding Muslims across the world accountable for Muslims in other nations, as Nationalism takes precedence here over religion (Islam is not a monolith nor is it united in its thought). If you said Afghanis should be held accountable for what is going on Afghanistan, I would agree. However, to what degree the Afghanis in Afghanistan today have any say in such a matter is a serious question. Has the coalition, as the democracy-granting institution, truly delivered? yet?

I meant to suggest quite the opposite: Muslims in the West should not be held accountable unless they violate the laws of the country in which they reside or if they are involved in illicit transnational activity. I as a Hindu certainly would not want to be blamed for Godhra or Dalit oppression or whatever else the drain inspector’s report turns up against Hindus.

That being said, I do wonder whether self-identifying as someone belonging to a faith heightens, ever-so-slightly, your level of “responsibility” to speak out, or condemn, atrocious behavior.

As to Muslim “reform,” it certainly is possible, why not. It would have to be indigenous, anti-Western (or face constant assault) and (probably) very gradual, not radical. Religious change must be viewed over centuries. Consider even a “radical” approach like Enlightenment: There was a lot of anti-Enlightenment shit going down in Europe long after Voltaire was dead. There still is!

Or the Sufis, perhaps ? I know there are differences between the various Sufi sects, but the more liberal and “non-exclusivist” ones might be considered to be (for want of better terms) “reformation” versions of Islam.

yes, 27 yrs between us, eu, and asia, the rest in other continents. some of it getting degrees in int’l business, relations, and political science, much of it living around int’l communities (i.e. diplomats, un, multinationals, and ingo’s)

i think u have a point, so out with it…

=)