17th September 2007

Sunday Times and Dispatches program highlight problems faced by British

*The issue of apostasy from Islam is beginning to receive mainstream media attention in Britain, as is shown by yesterday’s Sunday Times article (see below), and also by an episode of the Dispatches program, “Unholy War”, which is investigating violence and intimidation against British converts from Islam, and will be shown this evening on Channel 4 at 8pm. It is hoped this greater media coverage will lead both the government and Muslim leaders to take seriously the extreme difficulties often faced by converts from Islam, and to recognise that everyone should be free to choose what religion they practice. Barnabas Fund, and its International Director, Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, provided much of the information which was used in the Dispatches program. *

See article <http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/the_tls/tls_selections/religion/article2461314.ece> September 16, 2007

*Christian converts risk Muslim attack* /Abul Taher /

ONE of Britain’s most senior bishops has warned that a sustained campaign by Muslim extremists to intimidate and attack converts to Christianity risks ending in a murder.

Michael Nazir-Ali, the Bishop of Rochester, says that the persecution of Christian converts from Islam is so widespread that it may be only a matter of time before there is an “honour killing” of a convert by family or relatives.

He spoke out as the Barnabas Fund, a charity that looks after persecuted Christians around the world, estimated that there are more than a thousand attacks each year against former Muslims across Britain.

Nazir-Ali, speaking on the Channel 4 Dispatches programme to be broadcast tomorrow, said: “We have seen honour killings have happened and there is no reason why this kind of thing cannot happen.” Asked if somebody would be killed soon, he said: “I think it is entirely possible.”

He blamed Muslim leaders for not teaching their followers about the importance of freedom of religion in Britain: “It’s not for me to put words into their mouths [Muslim leaders], but I would look to them to uphold basic civil liberties, including the right for people to believe what they wish to believe and even to change their beliefs if they wish to do so.”

The Barnabas Fund has uncovered widespread abuse against new converts, from being verbally abused and spat at to being assaulted by gangs of men on the street and left for dead. In some cases it believes that women converts were abducted to Pakistan.

Nissar Hussein, 41, a hospital nurse from Bradford, converted to Christianity 10 years ago after the death of his younger brother. Shortly after his conversion he also persuaded his wife Kubra, 37, to convert from Islam.

Since then the Husseins and their five children have been subjected to daily abuse and violence by local Muslims in Bradford. Their windows have been smashed, vandals have daubed “Christian dog” on their front gate and their children have been sworn at and spat at on their way home from school. The family have received death threats.

Hussein says in the programme: “They told me categorically had I been in an Islamic country, ie Pakistan, the Middle East, that they would actually be the first to chop off my head.” The Husseins moved out of their home after six years, fearing they would be killed.

Research by the Barnabas Fund indicates that there are an estimated 3,000 Muslim converts to Christianity in Britain. About 2,000 of them are Iranians, while the rest are from the Indian subcontinent and Afghanistan.

Patrick Sookhdeo, director of the Barnabas Fund, said: “I think the situation is worsening in the UK because we are moving towards parallel communities – I don’t like to use the word ghettoisation. Muslims feel abandoning their religion is like a betrayal.” He added that attacks on converts was a type of Islamic extremism against a minority group.

*Links:*

Daily Prayer Point <http://www.barnabasfund.org/news/news_03.php> Barnabas Fund launches a new campaign.
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