Can Muslims change their religion?

This is good news in as much as it promotes the idea of choice and freedom for each individual to choose his or her own faith…

Is this yet another indication of a reformation within Islam?

From the Indian Express, dt 24th Jul ’07, comes this report which suggests that Muslims may be able to choose their own faith. This may be good news for M Revathi,  Lina Joy and others like her (emphasis mine).

“Egypt’s official religious advisor has ruled that Muslims are free to change their faith as it is a matter between an individual and God, in a move which could have far-reaching implications for the country’s Christians.

“The essential question before us is can a person who is Muslim choose a religion other than Islam? The answer is yes, they can,” Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa said in a posting on a Washington Post-Newsweek forum picked up by the Egyptian press.

…In many Muslim societies, those who convert to another religion are considered apostates and can be subject to capital punishment.

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

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

“This (ruling) is significant, especially coming from Gomaa,” he added. “Between 2004 and now there have been many court cases involving Christian converts to Islam that want to convert back to Christianity who are unable to do so.”
 

Read in conjunction with: Is a reformation within Islam finally under way? 

See also: “Not Possible to Modernize Islam” which has an interview with the one of the founders of the Council of Ex-Muslims in Germany.

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Excerpts from “Can Islam Reform Itself?”

Find of the day: This post by Hassan Butt, who was once a member of radical group Al-Muhajiroun, raising funds for extremists and calling for attacks on British citizens.

Excerpts (emphasis mine):

“…By refusing to challenge centuries-old theological arguments, the tensions between Islamic theology and the modern world grow larger every day.

…If our country (UK) is going to take on radicals and violent extremists, Muslim scholars must go back to the books and come forward with a refashioned set of rules and a revised understanding of the rights and responsibilities of Muslims whose homes and souls are firmly planted in what I’d like to term the Land of Co-existence. And when this new theological territory is opened up…perhaps we will discover that the concept of killing in the name of Islam is no more than an anachronism.”

It is hard to disagree with that.