Hat tip Holger Awakens and MEMRI-TV
As reported, I was told recently by the director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, Salam Marayati, that there was no death penalty in Islamic law for apostates. He pointed out there was nothing in the Koran about the death penalty for apostates. (He didn't say anything about the hadith.) No matter. Mr Marayati, meet Egyptian cleric Mazen Sirsawi, who has a slightly different take. The below video with English sub-titles comes to us from MEMRI-TV via Holger Awakens. This is a speech given by Sirsawi in September 2011.
http://www.holgerawakens.blogspot.com/2012/12/video-egyptian-cleric-sirsawi-beheading.html
"In Islam, an apostate is punished by death. There is no dispute about this."
"Let none of those blabbermouths say to you, 'There is no punishment for an apostate in Islam. I've never seen such a thing'".
"It is in all the books of jurisprudence."
I'm confused. This is not what Mr Marayati told me. This is not what Imam Muzammil Siddiqi of the Islamic Center of Orange County has told me. Whom should I believe?
Obviously there is a great diversity of opinion within Islam. Some proponents of this or that proposition say that there is no dispute -- not unlike some expounders of the Constitution of the United States who are determined to get their own way.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Gary.
Gary--not really pertinent to anything, but I have noticed a distinct dearth of commentary here recently. Even Siarlys, bless his little heart, is largely silent.
ReplyDeleteIs it just the holidays, or what??
Elwood,
ReplyDeleteMaybe the other side are all in jail for robbing banks and our supporters have been arrested by the Justice Department for hate speech.
Merry Christmas (past) Scrooge. Bless your little heart.
ReplyDeleteIf you really want to know elwood, I have been spending Christmas with my parents, along with a newly-adult niece, and we have been doing most of the cooking, since my elderly mother has to keep her leg propped up until the blood clots dissolve, and my father can only do so much. It has been quite a blessed holiday, but has left somewhat less time for responding to Gary's and your pungent opinionation.
ReplyDeleteSiarlys--I was concerned about you is all. Thanks (I think) for what I guess is a back-handed compliment if you go by the dictionary definition (both WNCD and Funk and Wagnall's)of "pungent". A continued Happy Holidays to you.
ReplyDeleteI take you at your word elwood, that you were concerned about me. Thank you for your concern. Its good to know I am missed.
ReplyDelete