Published On: Fri, Apr 19th, 2013

Morocco’s High Council of Ulemas’s Death Sentence Fatwa on Apostates Sparks Controversy

Moroccos High Council of Ulemass Death Sentence Fatwa on Apostates Sparks Controversy Moroccos High Council of Ulemass Death Sentence Fatwa on Apostates Sparks Controversy

 

By Samira Arabi

Morocco News Tribune

 

 

 

Agadir, Morocco | Morocco’s High Council of Ulemas (religious scholars) has issued a controversial Fawta decreeing the death penalty for Moroccan Muslims who left Islam.

The ruling, which came on page 285 in a book written by the High Council of Ulemas under the title “Fatwas of the years 2004-2012, was requested by and sent to the interministerial Delegation for Human Rights of Morocco which sought an explanation of Islam’s view on freedom of belief in the framework of the preparation of the sixth periodic report for the implementation of the International Covenant on civil and political rights.

 

The High Council of Ulemas backed up their opinion with the Koranic verse “And whoever of you reverts from his religion [to disbelief] and dies while he is a disbeliever – for those, their deeds have become worthless in this world and the Hereafter, and those are the companions of the Fire, they will abide therein eternally,” Surat Al-Baqarah[verse 217].

And the prophet’s Hadith “…The Prophet said, ‘If somebody (a Muslim) discards his religion, kill him.‘ 

According to Article 220 of the Moroccan Penal Code: “anyone who has impeded or prevented one or more persons from worship or from attending worship services of any religion may be punished by six-months to three-years imprisonment, and a fine of 200 to 500 dirhams.”

On the other hand, the Moroccan website Lakome reported that a source from High Council of Ulemas informed them that the controversial ruling is not an official Fatwa, but it was in fact only a viewpoint of Islamic law.

The High Council of Ulemas, which consists of religious Muslim scholars (Ulemas) appointed by the Ministry of Religious Endowments and Islamic Affairs, is considered the highest religious government institution in Morocco and is led by King Mohammed Vl of Morocco.

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  • Roxee

    For goodness sake this is totalinarianism. People should be free to have their own opinions and share them in the marketplace of ideas.

    • crj123082

      prepare to die

  • geodesicks

    Death for apostasy is the only way a religion like Islam can survive the healthy human conscience.

    • Brie

      Guess you’ve never heard of a little thing called “Christianity”…

      • Roxee

        Christians were murdering apostates before secularist laws tamed them. Thank goodness for the Magna Carta and the American constitution.

  • http://www.facebook.com/leonardo.delapaor Leonardo de la Paor

    Let ME tell you how we learn what Islam means:

    When we hear bombs, we hear Islam.

    When we see women dressed in black sacks, we see Islam.

    When we learn of amputations and stonings, we learn about Islam.

    When we read about sexism and homophobia, we read about Islam.

    When we face savagery, anger and greed for power, we face Islam.

    When we smell death, we smell Islam.

    When we hear Muslims say peace, we know they mean war.

    Islam is just one big F-ALLAH-CY!