Pure anachronism
Reader comment on item: Blaming Islamic Apostasy Laws on Western Imperialism

Submitted by Denis MacEoin (United Kingdom), Apr 7, 2006 at 17:18

As in many other cases, the argument that recourse to the death sentence for apostasy derives from the taint of Western imperialism is simply anachronistic. Shari'a law on this point was established centuries before the impact of the West on Islam, and modern judges cite the same sources. To state that Islamic reformers have not been allowed their say because of Western pressures is a reversal of the facts.

Genuine reformers in Islam have found themselves tarred with the brush of apostasy; the Salafi movement, which claims to represent a wave of reform is, in fact, entirely backward looking and has been responsible for most of the restraints placed on reformers who have tried to bring Islam into the modern world.

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