John Marion
September 2005
The government of Iraq is struggling to develop their new constitution. Educated Muslims are trying their best to put the principles of democracy and Islam together.
If Islam and Democracy are so compatible with each other, as so many claim, why is it such a struggle for Muslims to put the two together?
Will democracy prevail in Iraq and Afghanistan? Or Islam?
Much of the debate about Islam and democracy focuses on the role of women in society, voting issues, and freedom of religion. For each of these issues, there is some precedent that Muslims can create societies which give the appearance of a free and democratic society.
However, the proof whether or not Islam is compatible with democracy really comes down to the issue of freedom of religion. And what better place in the entire world to prove that Islam is in favor of freedom of religion, than the United States of America?
When Muslims speak about freedom of religion, they usually mean that some non-Muslim minorities should be allowed to exist in a Muslim society. We see examples of this in Muslim majority countries, such as in Egypt and Iraq, where ancient Christian communities still exist.
There is virtually no Muslim society where non-Muslims are permitted to thrive and grow. It is forbidden for non-Muslims to promote their religion among Muslims. This is true especially of Christianity.
Islam has a very poor track record of promoting freedom of religion. When the Muslims point to the fact that they have not totally eliminated Christian populations as proof of their support for freedom of religion, we should indeed be skeptical of their commitment to freedom of religion.
More importantly, the true test of religious tolerance and whether Islam supports freedom of religion is summed up in one question: Are Muslims free to leave Islam?
If Muslims do not have the freedom to leave Islam and convert to Christianity, then Islam is not compatible with democracy. Period.
A book entitled Democracy According to Islam by Dr. Niaz Faizi Kabuli of Afghanistan devotes 178 pages to the topic. Dr. John Esposito of Georgetown University recognizes this book as an important work. In his book, Dr. Kabuli makes a good case for how Islam is compatible with democracy. Except on one point.
That one point is found on pages 106 and 107. Dr. Kabuli states that “Islam is strict as regards apostasy.” He describes the fact that Islam does not allow Muslims to leave Islam. If any Muslim does leave Islam, he is an apostate who must be given a chance to return to Islam. But if the person refuses to return to Islam, the “punishment is death”.
The law of apostasy in Islam is crystal clear proof that Islam is not compatible with democracy. There are virtually no Muslim leaders anywhere in the world who have disavowed the Islamic law of apostasy. Including Muslim leaders in America.
If there is ever a place in the entire world and if there is ever a time in the history of Islam for Muslim leaders to do away with the law of apostasy, that place is America and the time is now.
The Muslim leaders in America are silent. Where is the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), to name one organization, on this issue? CAIR promotes itself as a civil rights organization. But what about the civil rights of Muslims who decide Mohammed is not a prophet and decide to believe in and follow Jesus Christ as the Son of God?
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of former Muslims in America who have become followers of Jesus Christ. Many of these have been threatened with death simply for exercising what truly is freedom of religion.
In the July 28 edition of FrontPageMagazine.com, Daveed Gartenstein-Ross writes about former Muslims who have become Christians. Some of these Muslim background Christians are currently active in evangelizing Muslims with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is causing quite a stir in the Arab world.
Ahmed Paul, a Muslim background Christian himself says, “The Middle East hasn’t before seen free debate about Islam in which an apostate shows himself.” The apostates Mr. Paul is speaking about are going on Middle East satellite television and proclaiming the message of Christ to their own people.
These apostates from Islam are now our brothers and sisters in Christ. But their lives are in danger even here in America.
When will the so-called moderate Muslims of America come forward and really demonstrate their belief that Islam is compatible with democracy by stating that Muslims are free to leave Islam and that those who choose to leave should not be punished under the law of apostasy?
This is the starting point for moderate Muslims in America, but they have yet to get started.
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