Ruth Gledhill: Religion Correspondent
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The daughter of a British imam is under police protection after she received death threats from her family for converting to Christianity.
The woman, aged 32, whose father is a Muslim imam in Lancashire, has moved house 45 times to escape detection by her family since she became a Christian 15 years ago.
Hannah, who uses a pseudonym to hide her identity, told The Times that she became a Christian after she ran away from home at 16 to escape an arranged marriage. The threats against her became more serious a month ago, prompting police to offer her protection in case of an attempt on her life.
She was speaking on the eve of the opening of Lapido Media, a charity that is seeking to promote “religious literacy” in world affairs.
Muslims in Britain who wish to convert to Christianity are living in fear of their lives because of Islamic apostasy laws, a senior Church of England bishop will warn at the invitaton-only charity event in West London.
Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, the Bishop of Rochester, will claim that “freedom to believe” is under threat in Britain because of Islamic hostility to conversion. He will call on society to offer greater protection, by increasing understanding of what makes people vulnerable.
Hannah, who gives talks to churches on Islam, has been in hiding since her home was attacked by a group of men armed with knives, axes and hammers, in 1994.
The latest threat was a text message from one of her brothers, warning that he could not be responsible for his actions if she did not return to Islam.
“I know the Koran says that anyone who goes away from Islam should be killed as an apostate so in some ways my family are following the Koran. They are following Islam to the word. But I do not think every Muslim would actually act on that,” she said.
Earlier this year, a Policy Exchange study found that 36 per cent of British Muslims aged between 16 and 24 believed those who converted to another religion should be punished by death.
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What a wonderful story. Meanwhile, readers should google the British blogger 'Lionheart' who faces prison at the hands of Brown's Government for writing a blog in which he criticises the actions and attitudes of fundamentalists Muslims in Luton which are echoed around Britain. His honest speech, which echoes what the majority of Britons have observed and probably think, is earning him massive persecution for 'hate speech', while the people who threaten the life of this young woman go utterly scott free, because the government has already bowed to Islam.
Steve, Leeds, UK
Why can't stalking legislation be used to protect this young woman and any person threatened with violence for faith or honour? Why has the family not been arrested ,charged ,and.... deported? We have had many cases of girls/women being stalked and then murdered.Surely it is what the stalking legislation is for.
Frances, Tunbridge Wells, UK
Praise be to God! Thanks be to God that this persecuted woman has found Christ. I pray the Lord is with her during this difficult time. Blessed is she because she is persecuted for His sake. I pray for her persecutors that they too may find Christ, as the St. Paul did after his role in tormenting the followers of Christ.
Pax Catholica, Los Angeles, California
Mo Yusuf said:
"Whats all the fuss about. there is no need to convert, as the muslim belief will cover all the abrahamic beliefs, a muslim will have to believe in Jesus (peace be upon him) otherwise s/he is not a muslim. At least its a good deal."
The reason for the "Fuss" Mr Yusuf, is that this woman is in fear for her life merely because she has changed her religion, is that so difficult for you to understand? Anyway, if as you say "the muslim belief will cover all the abrahamic beliefs" (sic) then what precisley is the point of Islam?
Paul M, Hull, UK
Scully Exeter
You have it bang on the nail, if these people cannot live on our terms in our country by our laws and traditions, as we have to if we go to their countries (as seen this week in the sudan)then they should go back to their own!!
They are doing themselves or their religion no favours!! enough is enough, This is Great Britain not the Middle East..
But of course they wont go back to their own countries as they have it too easy here,,,and this is not being racist, its being British and a realist....
Digger Cornwall...
Digger, Cornwall, UK
Religous law should only govern ones relationship with ones "God", the law of the land is supreme while we walk the earth and everyone should be made to understand that all must abide by it without exception.
John Lewis, London, UK
Thanks for that unhelpful bit of doggerel, Mo Yusuf of Leeds. This is the typical Muslim answer: why would anyone want to convert from such a wonderful religion, especially as Muslims "believe in Jesus"? Well firstly, the answer to the question is before you, and secondly, you show a woeful misunderstanding of Christianity. Islam misses the point of Jesus Christ entirely.
Syd, Cambridge,
Mo Yusuf, you're a typical example of an arrogant muslim that thinks islam is the supreme manifestation of divine revelation, super-ceding Christianity and Judaism. Pity these other faiths don't see it that way but at least in this (non-muslim) country they can choose their faith.
John, Limerick, Ireland
Muslim ideology is a problem, yes, but atheist ideology isn't far behind judging by Alan C. of Shetland's comment. Does he really believe that murdering people who believe in heaven should be no "problem," or was he just trying to make funny about a woman whose life is being threatened?
Douglas, Auburn, NY, USA
Whats all the fuss about. there is no need to convert, as the muslim belief will cover all the abrahamic beliefs, a muslim will have to believe in Jesus (peace be upon him) otherwise s/he is not a muslim. At least its a good deal.
Mo Yusuf, Leeds, UK
The god of tolerance and love must be rolling in his grave
Udo , melbourne, Australia
Marcus..(Sweden)..In the UK the government is bending over backwards to please this medieval cruel religion....They seem to be having a love affair with it...There must be some hidden agenda going on that we cannot see as yet...
Everyweek something nasty happens with Islam throughout the world but its just ignored..
Men fought for freedom in WW1&2 and we are bowing down to people who ignore the rules of this country and want to rule this and many others in their way.......It wont go away as some hope...time to wake up and smell the coffee me thinks.
scully, Exeter, UK
How can this be tolerated AND on top of it, more muslim demands be given into? What's going on with the UK?
Marcus E, Stockholm, Sweden
It amazes me that anyone can give up one set of bronze age mythology, only to take up a different one.
If she believes in Jesus and heaven what's the problem? Her family just want her to get there (heaven) ahead of schedule.
Alan C., Shetland,
Does this mean that people are scared of leaving Islam because of what could happen to them? Family alienation? Death? There are many muslims living here, do they follow this countries rules or the rules of Religion? I know many would choose the latter. More needs to be done to tackle this ideology. It seems to me to be the complete opposite for reasoning.
Jimbo, Medway, UK