Subj: Leaving Islam: Apostates Speak Out.

Dear Friends,

This is a brief posting simply to alert readers to a significant new book by Ibn Warraq. The book is entitled, “Leaving Islam: Apostates Speak Out.”

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Radio National program “The Religion Report”, recently conducted an interview with Ibn Warraq about his new book.

The interviewer, Stephen Crittenden, describes the book this way: “It’s part history of dissent and apostasy in Islam, and part collection of testimonials from former Muslims from all around the world, some writing anonymously, others willing to risk their lives by using their real names, and all writing about what it was about the Islamic faith that made them want to leave it.”

The interview reveals the incendiary nature of the book. Ibn Warraq claims that multitudes of Muslims are leaving Islam and wanting to leave Islam, but lack of freedom and fear of reprisals leaves them too afraid to speak out. He speaks of his desire to see the Islamic debate opened up; he wants to see freedom of conscience and freedom of religion become the reality in Muslim nations – he wants to see Muslims liberated from fear.

Warraq says that most Muslims who leave Islam, do so after reading the Qur’an in a translation they can understand. Stephen Crittenden comments that this is the opposite to Christianity, to which Warraq replies, “Well, yes and no.” He then asserts that Islamic fundamentalism springs from those who are educated, can read and understand the Qur’an, and chose to take it literally.

The transcript of the interview can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/relrpt/stories/s892997.htm

Ibn Warraq’s website is: The Institute for the Secularisation of Islamic Society (ISIS). http://www.secularislam.org/

From the mission statement: “The Institute for the Secularisation of Islamic Society (ISIS) has been formed to promote the ideas of rationalism, secularism, democracy and human rights within Islamic society.

“ISIS promotes freedom of expression, freedom of thought and belief, freedom of intellectual and scientific inquiry, freedom of conscience and religion – including the freedom to change one’s religion or belief – and freedom from religion: the freedom not to believe in any deity.”

– Elizabeth Kendal

**WEA Religious-Liberty e-mail Conference** <>

This information is provided to Religious Liberty Conference users. “World Evangelical Alliance – Religious Liberty e-mail Conference.”

To subscribe to the Religious Liberty e-mail Conference, please send your request to the conference moderator, Elizabeth Kendal <>. Please include your name and country or state of residence.

The Religious Liberty Conference is a moderated conference sharing information on the state of religious liberty and persecution around the world with those with a special interest in the field. Most members are involved in church-based religious liberty advocacy, academic research, missions leadership, creative-access missions, religious media, or have prayer networks supporting these groups, although anyone is welcome to join. Postings average one or two per week. Information shared does not necessarily reflect the opinion of World Evangelical Alliance, or of the WEA Religious Liberty Commission.

For more information on the World Evangelical Alliance, please take a look at our site on the web at <http://www.WorldEvangelical.org>. For more stories on religious liberty/persecution issues, click on “Persecuted Church News.”

For more about the Religious Liberty Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance (RLC), see http://www.WorldEvangelical.org/rlc.html

Advocates International serves as the legal and judicial advisor to the RLC. Advocates International links many Christian lawyers and judges around the world and has been involved in religious liberty issues for many years. Their website is located at <http://www.advocatesinternational.org>.

For those of you who would like more detailed information on situations for prayer and intercession, we recommend that you subscribe to the WEA Religious Liberty Prayer List. Each week a different nation or situation is highlighted. To subscribe, send an empty e-mail to <> with any or no subject.