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The Price of Apostasy

posted at 9:16 am on October 26, 2006 by Bryan
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Isn’t Sen. Barack Obama an apostate Muslim?

there it is on October 26, 2006 at 9:51 AM

Bassiouni, a DePaul University professor of law obfuscates islamic sharia interpretations? Say it isn’t so~ (intense sarcasm)

No one exposes the deception (aka taqiyya)like Robert and JihadWatch.org! God Bless them!

heroyalwhyness on October 26, 2006 at 9:51 AM

I’m technically an apostate from Judaism.
I was born Jewish and converted to center/right Christianity in my mid 20’s. Though my parents certainly disapproved of my choice-especially my choice to raise their 1/2 Jewish grandson as a Christian-they didn’t advocate for my death because of it. Notice that no Jews are advocating the death/harm to-even rudeness of/to ‘fellow Jewish apostates” Marvin Olasky, Dr. Bernard Nathanson, Lawrence Kudlow etc.
I’ve distant relatives who’ve gone the “other direction”-and their Christian friends and family have acted similarly.
My parents and I just agreed to disagree-and 6 years later my mother “stood up” at my CHURCH wedding when I got remarried.

An apostate from islam would be dead or in hiding like that gentleman from Afghanistan.

Yet the left says that all religions are the same.

Riiiight.

annoyinglittletwerp on October 26, 2006 at 10:12 AM

Don’t forget that Christian Fundimentalists are just as bad as Islamic Fundimentalists. At least according to Rosie O’Donnel….

Of course the fact that Rosie is still breathing proves she’s wrong since she hasn’t been killed for apostate from ‘christianity’ or for homosexuality…. She literally proves herself a liar with every single breath she takes……

The fact that Islam requires that apostates must be killed proves that its a death cult and not a ‘religion’. Isn’t inability to leave one of the hallmarks of a cult?

CrazyFool on October 26, 2006 at 10:52 AM

If those radicals want to live life like in the ancient days they shouldn’t be blogging or using the internet. They should be writing with chisels on stone.

Drtuddle on October 26, 2006 at 10:57 AM

Somebody help me.

I’ve tried for a decade now to be “tolerant.” To really believe that the vast majority of Muslims are interested in peace. I’ve resisted the emotional appeal of the “nuke ‘em all” rhetoric.

But with every passing day, I start to wonder more. Because the OBJECTIVE evidence seems to be diametrically opposed to that “tolerance” I keep hanging onto.

Is my “tolerance” a sort of Kool-Aid drinking? Am I ignoring the evidence right in front of me, and deciding to believe what I’d prefer to believe, instead?

It’s getting harder to ignore what my eyes see and what my ears here and what my brain understands.

Am I hiding from simple truth? Are MOST people hiding from it? Am I a racist/bigot/Islamophobe if I finally admit what is starting to seem painfully obvious – that the religion of peace is a myth?

And if it is a myth – what do we do?

Does any of the above make any sense?

Professor Blather on October 26, 2006 at 11:11 AM

here = hear. PIMF. Sheesh.

Professor Blather on October 26, 2006 at 11:12 AM

Great video.

Why can’t President Bush get someone in his administration to articulate the Jihad threat we face?

He has to stop saying the terrorists want to kill us because they “hate freedom” or “hate our way of life” this isn’t connecting…

When Americans hear a Robert Spencer, or Mark Steyn, or Brigette Gabriel – we get it, we see what we’re facing.

It’s time Bush started using the same language. Maybe after the election he will?

flagwaver on October 26, 2006 at 11:15 AM

The islamic deathcult will never stop pursuing this guy until because they MUST make an example of him and anybody else who dares leave the cult.

Meanwhile, under the radar all across the world, the deathcult followers torture and murder many others from various religions who are caught practicing their faith in the muslim lands. Islam is the epitomy of intolerance of anything non-muslim. They are supremacists and, time and again, we see the depravity resulting from their intolerance.

Mahdi Al-Dajjal on October 26, 2006 at 11:22 AM

****”behead those who insult islam!”******

then in the next breath, “islam is a religion of peace”

tell that to Daniel Pearl….

proud to be an infidel here!

angry_mike on October 26, 2006 at 11:24 AM

I feel as the same as Prof. You hear one “expert” say how the religion is “hijacked” by radicals, then someone else puts forward proof that this is just the way Islam is period. I have now come to believe that so-called moderate Muslims are like Cafeteria Catholics. They aren’t really practicing the true Muslim faith. I now believe that authentic Islam advocates what the terrorists are doing. Because the barbaric tenets of Islam have never been officially modified by the leaders, what first was decreed, still stands as dogma for the true followers.

Teal on October 26, 2006 at 11:25 AM

Here is what I’ve always had a problem with. If most of the world’s Muslims are peaceful loving people who merely want to practice their religion in peace. Why is it that the small percentage of “radicals” is the only ones you hear about on the evening news? I have never understood the concept of the supermajority of Muslims being hijacked by the elite radical few. Can anyone actually imaging a radical organization here in the US (like the KKK) attempting to take over the US government or conducting daily car-bombings under the guise of “Doing God’s Work? The mass Majority of Christians would immediately denounce their actions. They would be immediately condemned by the national media (Although the ACLU may provide them free legal counsel). It just doesn’t add up how a tiny few can control so many unless the many want to be ruled by the few. Can someone help me out here???

Scorched_Earth on October 26, 2006 at 12:29 PM

A great clarification of apostasy and its’ repurcussions. Robert Spencer, we owe you a great deal of gratitude for sharing your knowledge of Islam and connecting the evil this cult perpetuates with the Koran itself.

liberty on October 26, 2006 at 12:57 PM

Yeah, the majority are ‘cafeteria Muslims’, but you have to remember that even 1% of 1.2 billion Muslims is a hell of a lot of Muslims.

ahem on October 26, 2006 at 1:05 PM

Scorched_Earth asks:

Why is it that the small percentage of “radicals” is the only ones you hear about on the evening news?…Can someone help me out here???

Well, because talking about the majority of Muslims – the moderates – wouldn’t help to shape the paradigm of Islam that suits the interests of American foreign policy. In order to engineer the consent of the masses, the media selectively report on issues that either confirm the Washington Concensus or keep the bewildered masses (me and you) focused on the trivial.

And I am not suggesting some major conspiracy here – it’s just how the system operates in an effort to sustain our society.

GregH on October 26, 2006 at 1:08 PM

WOW! Talk about courage in the face of adversity. Abdul Rahman owns some serious intestinal fortitude! They should run him as a canidate in Iraqi government. What can be said for Gabriel Torsello. Grow a cool beard,convert to Islam. It seemed like a good Idea at the time. Come into my parlor said the spider to the fly.

sonnyspats1 on October 26, 2006 at 1:30 PM

Judaism/Christianity was hijacked by the pedophile “prophet” Mohammad and turned into the death-cult of Islam.

Which has to try to kill all who say otherwise.

Or who wise up and attempt to escape its clutches.

Just like the Jonestown death-cult of Jim “Former Rhesus Monkey Salesman” Jones.

Mecca is just Jonestown with a turban.

The “Recitation”, a vat of poisonous Koranic Kool-Aid, called “Holy” by the sufficiently-intimidated.

profitsbeard on October 26, 2006 at 1:33 PM

Islam is a religion of peace only if the entire world is made Dar al-Islam. Abdul Rahman knows the cost of following Jesus. Jesus made it very clear. Pray for him, but he’s not afraid. He wasn’t afraid the first time the Muslims caught him. If he is killed, he knows he’ll “come to life, and reign with Christ a thousand years.”

Rev 20:4
4I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

PRCalDude on October 26, 2006 at 2:16 PM

Well, because talking about the majority of Muslims – the moderates – wouldn’t help to shape the paradigm of Islam that suits the interests of American foreign policy. In order to engineer the consent of the masses, the media selectively report on issues that either confirm the Washington Concensus or keep the bewildered masses (me and you) focused on the trivial.

And I am not suggesting some major conspiracy here – it’s just how the system operates in an effort to sustain our society.

GregH on October 26, 2006 at 1:08 PM

These ‘moderate muslims’ you speak of are the ones who don’t actually follow their religion. Just like Robert Spencer pointed out in the video, as a muslim you are supposed to put apostates to death according to Mohammed and his book. Why are the radicals the ones just following the religion as it is written? Why are you a Dhimmi?

sirmyth on October 26, 2006 at 2:33 PM

Robert Spencer consistently provides exceptional reporting and commentary that is clearly thought out, based on verifiable facts and well presented. This is the caliber of content and presentation that makes Hot Air a must daily read for those interested in the truth that will not make it into the MSM.

omegaram on October 26, 2006 at 2:47 PM

Response to Professor Blather’s Post:

I completly understand your delima and have some of those same questions as well. Here are my conclusions:

Tolerance of others is a value I believe is essential to not only peace but a prosperous and vibrant civilization. Tolerance of others, especially religion, is a foundation of our great nation and an essential part of our culture.

There are limits to Tolerance however – and as with almost all things absolutes are an illusion. We tolerate others to speak as they choose – except when they clearly infringe on another’s safety (ie, shouting fire in a crowded theatre).

The problem with Islam is that it is anything but tolerant of others and those that defect from their way of thinking. This lack of tolerance is firmly and thoroughly integrated into their doctrine and belief system. (Just one proof and example is today’s excellent vent). There are only 3 choices for a human condition with the Muslim:

1) Muslim
2) Slave
3) Dead

This is the issue – how to be tolerant of a group that is not tolerant of others and wishes to impose their will on others (especially me). The answer is that Tolerance of such a group is foolish and unwise – they will use your values of tolerance against you to dominate you, your values, your way of life or will destroy you, your kin, your country, and anything they do not approve in the smallest way.

The one facet of this delima I have struggled with and requested discourse for on Hot Air is about the “moderate” Muslim. The conclusion I have come to is that the “moderate” Muslim is very rare and is persecuted unmercifully, as is the case with Hersi Ali and Bridgette Gabriel.

I have come to the conclusion that almost all Muslims that are not of the violent jihad seeking variety and “desire peace” are in reality “dormant” or in a “not currently active” state. This explains why the original Muslim immigrants can be peaceful and their offspring become the jihad variety.

Yes, describing Islam as “religion of peace” is not only a myth but is a gross misrepresentation of an intolerant doctrine that mandates unmerciful and barbarbic treatment of anyone who does not think as they do.

The solutions are elusive, but I have many ideas here. The most important ones for the near future are:

1) It is essential that the Untied States enforce it laws without regard to religion. If the Muslim engages in violence, abets terrorism, or commits treason the law should be enforced immediately and to it’s fullest extent.

2) We can recognize the current state of affairs and participate in discussion such as that here on Hot Air. Hot Air is an extremely valuable resource that we should all view daily and participate in.

3) In my opinion I believe boycott of any and all Muslim or Islamic organization, business, or individual is in our best interest.

Sorry for the longest post ever – I hope it stimulates conversation on an important topic.

omegaram on October 26, 2006 at 3:13 PM

omegaram, Bridgette Gabriel is Lebanese but not muslim. Her story is on video here.

heroyalwhyness on October 26, 2006 at 3:24 PM

There is no “law” per se under Sharia – the law is whatever the local Imam/Mullah/Tribal Leader says it is. It’s a monster of a social control system (sub-category: fascist), but hardly codifiable.

mojo on October 26, 2006 at 3:25 PM

Very nice work as usual Mr. Spencer.

High Desert Wanderer on October 26, 2006 at 3:34 PM

heroyalwhyness:

Yes, I goofed, Brigette Gabriel is actually a Christian – sorry for the mispost.

I do think that the point is well made with Hersi Ali however.

It makes me wish Robert Spencer would do a piece on the “moderate” muslim however – he would be able to come up with more examples.

I read about them on occasion but have not kept track.

omegaram on October 26, 2006 at 3:34 PM

Dear Professor Blather,

While tolerance is a good thing, it is only good to a point.

I honestly believe that most Muslims genuinely want peace. It’s their religion that has the problem.

From what I’ve seen, it’s not the religion that has been hijacked by radicals, it is the person that has been hijacked by a radical religion. It causes a normally sane and rational person to commit acts that would be considered insane and irrational.

Here are some conclusions I’ve come to:

Islam inculcates an “us vs. them” mentality. It encourages interaction with other Muslims and not with non-Muslims.

Islam has high demands for what it deems pure. These demands are usually too high for a regular person to meet which fosters guilt.

The dogma of Islam is considered absolute truth. There is no room for challenging current beliefs without appearing unfaithful.

Thought stopping words -special terms- are used to describe complicated situations. (Dhimmitude, Jihad, Sharia, etc.)

The Islamic doctrine takes precedence over the person. If a person’s experience doesn’t match up with what the religion believes, the person is the one with the problem. Many Muslims can be required to go against their conscience or condemn something that they personally don’t have a problem with.

You must also be a Muslim to “be saved”. The Muslim world is divided into two camps. There is no valid reason to leave the Muslim faith. Those who do are considered evil or deficient in some way.

The religion gets such a hold on the person that all the actions of the person are filtered through the religion.

The original person has been covered with so many layers of control that they cannot think independently.

They become convinced of the Truth of their religion and the above layers of control make sure that they become so enmeshed that they become “assimilated into the Borg.”

Now we have the additional problem that, since its founding, Islam has used violence and coercion to spread. Those techniques are part of the religion.

All these factors make it easy for someone within the group to lead them to do literally anything.

I doubt any of this information really helps out much because I was working through this as I typed it out and it really doesn’t help me out either. Coercive groups are dangerous even when they don’t have a propensity towards violence.

People can leave such groups usually by getting ahold of the right information -even when it turns their world upside down.

“Nuke em all” is the thought that has come to my mind a lot -especially after watching videos of people’s deaths being executed and the jubliant masses praising their god. But that is not the answer. That is the option to employ only upon absolute failure after other venues are spent and it is down to kill or be killed. I don’t see us at that point yet. If it comes to that point, I hope we recognise it before it’s too late.

I see the best path being the longest and most difficult path: Saving the Muslim from himself.

I could blather on indefinitely, but I need to stop before I stoop to incoherency.

-Paladin

Lord grant me the courage to change the things I can,
The serenety to accept the things I can’t
And the weaponry to make the difference.

Paladin on October 26, 2006 at 4:13 PM

“Islamic law”…what an oxymoron.

labwrs on October 26, 2006 at 5:25 PM

The only answer is to recognize Islam for the evil that it is.

Put it this way: someone calls themselves a Nazi, says that they are a follower of Hitler and his teachings in Mein Kampf.

They also say that you have Hitler all wrong – he had the highest morals and lived according to the will the Aryan god.

Do you trust that person? Do you trust a prayer place that meets on Thursdays to readings of Mein Kampf and sermons thereof?

What do you think of the 1 billion other Nazis who are “peaceful”? Do you want 10 or 20 or 30 million Nazis living and breeding in the USA?

Now back to Islam. Muhammad is exactly as Ali Sina has written, as documented in Islamic texts. Islamic wreaked havoc on the world, killing 60-80 million Hindus along the way, also documented by Muslims – who are proud of it.

Islam has NEVER been peaceful, except as they slid into economic and military irrelevence as the West rose, culiminating in the last 60-80 years (remember the Armenian genocide). What are witnessing now is an reawakening of Islam which wants to go back to the only thing it knows how to do: steal from others and kill or enslave them.

Islam has added NOTHING to the world’s knowledge – forget about the “Golden Age”, which was merely the echoes of the Persian and Byzantine far superior civilizations which Islam DESTROYED.

A ‘moderate’ Muslim is a walking time bomb, who at the very best is trying to breed us into submission. Do we really want 5 or 10 or 20% of our population utter misogynists?

I rest my case.

Ethelred on October 26, 2006 at 6:22 PM

Ethelred:

Points well taken, I agree with much of what you are saying and if I may suggest that a good topic for Robert Spencer or Hot Air is recognition of the Muslim population explosion being used as a weapon – and disregard for the development of those children due to their numbers.

The issue of the “moderate” Muslim remains however. How can we say that Hersi Ali, to me the benchmark of the “Moderate” Muslim, is a threat? There are many who would follow in the mold of Hersi Ali if they were not threatened for their beliefs.

I do not believe we can simply seperate all Muslims into the evil, take the stand of “us versus them”. Hersi Ali is worth studying because her reforms would bring Islam from a dangerous dogma based on 13th century domination to a modern form of tolerant religious beliefs devoted the worship of God.

This issue of the truly “moderate” Muslim needs to be addressed in depth to understand the problem we face.

omegaram on October 26, 2006 at 6:43 PM

GregH

Well, because talking about the majority of Muslims – the moderates – wouldn’t help to shape the paradigm of Islam that suits the interests of American foreign policy. In order to engineer the consent of the masses, the media selectively report on issues that either confirm the Washington Concensus or keep the bewildered masses (me and you) focused on the trivial.

GregH, do you think the media is doing the bidding of the government? The NYT is helping Bush in his plans to attack other Muslim nations?

Are you really saying this?

EFG on October 26, 2006 at 6:53 PM

Getting back to the topic of Abdul Rahman, I heard that the Italian that was kidnapped in Afghanistan (Gabriele Torsello) is actually a convert to Islam.

Which seems weird.

EFG on October 26, 2006 at 6:56 PM

Methods of controlling the masses are incompatable with methods of empowering the people. The afghan people seem to value freedom. I guess it is time for a real gut check over there. They are trying to keep their cake and eat it too.

Big White Hat on October 26, 2006 at 7:07 PM

EFG states

I heard that the Italian that was kidnapped in Afghanistan (Gabriele Torsello) is actually a convert to Islam.

Take a gander at Torsello’s image in this BBC article.

heroyalwhyness on October 26, 2006 at 7:45 PM

A great video and Abdul Rahman is a very brave man.

Robert Spencer is by far the best Hot Air video presenter.

Christoph on October 27, 2006 at 1:34 AM

Does any of the above make any sense?

Professor Blather on October 26, 2006 at 11:11 AM

Every single word, Professor.

p.v. cornelius on October 27, 2006 at 4:32 AM

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