Former Muslims To Muslim Leaders: Repudiate Islamic Law Requiring Execution Of Apostates

From an email:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information, contact Former Muslims United director Nonie Darwish (818) 314-3972 or info@formermuslimsunited.org

Former Muslims send "Freedom Pledge" Nationwide to Muslim Leaders for 220th Anniversary of Bill of Rights "Muslim Pledge for Religious Freedom and Safety from Harm for Former Muslims" Call on DOJ, US Commission On Civil Rights to Investigate Hate Crimes and Discrimination Against Apostates from Islam WASHINGTON, DC (September 23, 2009) - Prominent former Muslims-- apostates from Islam-- have mailed a groundbreaking Freedom Pledge to over 50 Muslim leaders asking them to repudiate the Islamic law that requires the execution of apostates who have left Islam. The pledge and cover letter have just been released to the public at the website of the new civil rights organization - Former Muslims United - www.formermuslimsunited.org. Former Muslims United will be formally launched at a press conference Thursday, September 24, to announce the start of their national campaign to educate the American public and policymakers about the threat from authoritative Shariah-- Islamic law-- to the religious freedom and safety of former Muslims. The names and organizational affiliations of the Muslim leaders sent the Freedom Pledge will be released at the press conference and posted online at www.formermuslimsunited.org. Additional Muslim leaders will be sent the pledge in the next months as the national campaign gets underway. Former Muslims United founders, authors Nonie Darwish and Ibn Warraq, will also release the text of letters which were hand-delivered Wednesday, September 23, 2009 to Attorney General Eric Holder, U.S. Department of Justice, and Gerald A. Reynolds, Chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. The letters call on Holder and Reynolds to investigate possible hate crimes and civil rights violations against apostates from Islam, including the circumstances of the current Florida case of 17-year old Rifqa Bary, a former Muslim. The letters were signed by Former Muslims United founders Nonie Darwish, Mohammad Asghar, Amil Imani, Wafa Sultan and Ibn Warraq. In the cover letter to the Freedom Pledge, the five founders speak directly to Muslim leaders : "We are all aware of incidents of intimidation, threats of violence and actual assaults against former Muslims. We reach out to you with a sincere hope that you and your organization will join with us in ensuring peace and justice, safety and freedom for Muslims and former Muslims alike...." The "Muslim Pledge for Religious Freedom and Safety from Harm for Former Muslims" includes numerous citations for Shariah legal opinions on death for apostates. The full pledge can be read and downloaded at www.formermuslimsunited.org . Security at the press conference will be tightly maintained, and photo identification will be required of all attendees.

EVENT: Launch of Former Muslims United PLACE: Longworth House Office Building, Hearing Room 1334 DATE: Thursday, September 24, 2009 TIME: 2:00 p.m. All Former Muslims United founders are available for interviews. For more information, contact Former Muslims United director Nonie Darwish at 818-314-3972 or email info@formermuslimsunited.org

Technorati Tag: Islam and Nonie Darwish.