Thoughts and Theology: Rifqa Bary's Testimony

Friday, September 18, 2009

Rifqa Bary's Testimony

25 comments:

Jeff said...: Interview with the Pastor in Orlando and his wife, regarding the Rifqa Bary case; September 18, 2009 at 2:31 PM
Dr. Russell Norman Murray said...: I hope this works out well.:); September 19, 2009 at 1:15 AM
Jeff said...: Yes, as do I. A lot is riding on the final decision: namely, Rifqa's life. But it will likely have even more far-reaching effects than that, as it will very likely affect future policy regarding similar matters.; September 19, 2009 at 5:07 AM
Jeff said...: Rifqa is an excellent example of the following verses:

"Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it." (Matthew 10:34-39 NASB)

Rifqa is also an example of the following:

"If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple." (Luke 14:26)

"Hate" is a vivid hyperbole---a figure of speech in which statements are exaggerated, like, "That guy is as strong as an ox!" A better translation for our way of thinking today might be "reject" instead of "hate," as in, choosing one [Christ] over the other [parents]. Though she loves her parents, her love for Christ needs to be far more, because following Christ means losing her parents, and may even mean her dad killing her. She has counted the cost.

Similarly:

"In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:33); September 22, 2009 at 2:02 PM
Jeff said...: What Islam teaches about dealing with apostates.

From the Qur'an:
(An-Nisa 4:89)
They wish that you reject Faith, as they have rejected (Faith), and thus that you all become equal (like one another). So take not Auliyâ' (protectors or friends) from them, till they emigrate in the Way of Allâh (to Muhammad SAW). But if they turn back (from Islâm), take (hold) of them and kill them wherever you find them, and take neither Auliyâ' (protectors or friends) nor helpers from them.

From the Hadiths:
Sahih Bukhari Book 52:260
Narrated Ikrima: Ali burnt some people and this news reached Ibn 'Abbas, who said, "Had I been in his place I would not have burnt them, as the Prophet said, 'Don't punish (anybody) with Allah's Punishment.' No doubt, I would have killed them, for the Prophet said, 'If somebody (a Muslim) discards his religion, kill him.' "; September 28, 2009 at 5:56 AM
Jeff said...: Death Sentence for Leaving Islam; October 1, 2009 at 6:17 PM
Jeff said...: Rifqa Bary: The NOOR Mosque Marks Anniversary of US Marine Bombing in Beirut by Hosting Hezbollah Supporter; October 1, 2009 at 6:31 PM
Jeff said...: John D. Guandolo is a 12 ½ year veteran of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. At the request of the Center for Security Policy, he prepared an assessment of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's (FDLE) investigation of the Ohio-based parents of former Muslim Rifqa Bary, the 17-year old apostate from Islam who has sought refuge in the state of Florida. The FDLE report is provided as a .pdf HERE, and is available as searchable text for the first time, below his analysis. The significant errors and omissions that Mr. Guandolo and other experts have found in this FDLE investigation show a failure in FDLE's professional responsibility in handling the Rifqa Bary case. Governor Crist and FDLE management need to get new investigators on the job, start over, and this time do it right. A life may be at stake due to FDLE negligence-- and willful blindness-- in conducting this investigation.

“Death for apostasy” kills any prospects for peaceful coexistence between Islam and any of the other religions. Now we know they tell us one thing, while they tell their own another, in the age old tradition of taqiyya. Therefore, peaceful coexistence with Islam is “dead on arrival.”; October 1, 2009 at 6:35 PM
Jeff said...: More on Apostasy in Islam:

Quotation from: Ahmad ibn Naqib al-Misri, Reliance of the Traveller: A Classic Manual of Islamic Sacred Law,

(O: Leaving Islam is the ugliest form of unbelief (kufr) and the worst. It may come about through sarcasm, as when someone is told, “Trim your nails, it is sunna,” and he replies, “I would not do it even if it were,” as opposed to when some circumstance exists which exonerates him of having committed apostasy, such as when his tongue runs away with him, or when he is quoting someone, or says it out of fear.)
o8.1 When a person who has reached puberty and is sane voluntarily apostatizes from Islam, he deserves to he killed.
o8.2 In such a case, it is obligatory for the caliph (A: or his representative) to ask him to repent and return to Islam. If he does, it is accepted from him, but if he refuses, he is immediately killed.
o8.3 It he is a freeman, no one besides the caliph or his representative may kill him. If someone else kills him, the killer is disciplined (def: o17) (O: for arrogating the caliph’s prerogative and encroaching upon his rights, as this is one of his duties).
o8.4 There is no indemnity for killing an apostate (O: or any expiation, since it is killing someone who deserves to die).; October 1, 2009 at 6:37 PM
Jeff said...: Apostasy: What does Islamic Scholarship say? (Note: A LOT OF INFORMATION HERE!); October 1, 2009 at 6:39 PM
Jeff said...: Rifqa Bary Documents - Father Threatened To Kill Her, Noor Mosque Which Family Attended Has Terrorist Ties
By WILLIAM MAYER and BEILA RABINOWITZ

August 31, 2009 - San Francisco, CA - PipeLineNews.org - The case of Fathima Rifqa Bary, a 17 year old young woman who was raised as a Muslim and lived with her family in Gahanna, Ohio since 2004, revolves around a claim that because of her recent conversion to Christianity she fears for her safety at the hands of her family which is adamantly opposed to her leaving Islam.

To escape from the danger posed especially by her father, Ms. Bary ran away from home to Florida. She has at least temporarily been granted, via court order, the right to remain in Florida while her case is adjudicated.

Today Rifqa's pro-bono attorney, John Stemberger, released two documents:

1. Ms. Bary's affidavit

2. Intelligence memorandum alleging terrorist ties of Noor Mosque

According to Ms. Bary's affidavit, when she arrived in Ohio:

"...After visiting a couple of other Mosques in the area, including the "Islamic Center" in Columbus, my Father decided that our family would join and become active in the "Noor Islamic Cultural Center" (Noor Center) located in Dublin, Ohio...there were eight other Mosques that were closer to our home in the Columbus area...my father was very intent on making sure that his children and especially me, were raised deeply in the faith of "Original Islam" which was taught at the Noor Center...My father was a committed member of the Noor Center and required our family to attend as much as possible."

Bary dated the time of her conversion to Christianity, which she hid from her family, especially her father:

"I became a Christian on November 18, 2005 at the Korean United Methodist church in Columbus, Ohio."

During June of 2009 Bary's father confronted her. He had previously found a copy of Rick Warren's "A Purpose Driven Life" which she had hidden in her room. Her father told her how important it was for him to maintain "the Islamic bloodline in my family."

Her father told Rifqa he had "received numerous emails and phone calls from the leaders of the Noor Center community who informed him that he needed to deal with this matter immediately."

She continued, "In a fit of anger that I had never seen before in my life, he picked up my laptop, waived it over my head as if to strike me with it and said "If you have this Jesus in your heart you are dead to me! You are no longer my daughter." I continued to remain silent and then he said to me even more angry than before, "I will kill you! Tell me the truth!"

The second document released today by Ms. Bary's attorney refers to alleged terrorist ties of the Noor mosque that she was forced to attend.

Mr. Stemberger states that the mosque, "has been identified as one of the primary sources of Islamic extremism in Central Ohio."

To flesh that claim out he further states:

Regarding the Noor Center's CEO ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, the radical Islamic Egyptian group responsible for creating the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas:

"The leader of the mosque, Dr. Hany Saqr, was previously an imam for another area mosque at the same time the largest known Al-Qaeda cell in the U.S. since 9/11 was operating out of the mosque. Additionally, Dr. Saqr was identified in exhibits submitted by the Department of Justice in a recent terrorism finance trial in Texas as being one of the leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood in North America – an international organization responsible for birthing virtually every Islamic terrorist organization in the world, including Al-Qaeda. One of his subordinates identified in those trial exhibits was identified in a FBI memorandum as providing $735,000 to Hamas while under Dr. Saqr's direction."

(cont.); October 1, 2009 at 6:59 PM
Jeff said...: (cont.)

Regarding the Noor Center's scholar and his alleged ties to terrorism:

"A former Islamic scholar associated with The Noor Center is Dr. Salah Sultan, a cleric that has been photographed with terrorist leaders designated as such by the U.S. government. Dr. Sultan has recently appeared on television inciting violence against Jews, and he has previously appeared at events in support of designated terrorist organizations while an active part of the Noor Center community. Following his departure to Bahrain, unconfirmed reports indicate that his US citizenship application has been denied and that he has been banned from reentering the US."

Regarding the Noor Center's hosting of radical Muslim speakers.

"A number of extremist speakers have been featured at recent Noor Center events who are on record making statements in support of violence, terrorism and extremism. Evidence also indicates that some of these speakers have been directly involved in fundraising and supporting the mosque since its inception. One regular speaker and fundraiser for the Noor Center was listed by federal prosecutors as an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing trial."

Regarding the Noor Center being allegedly tied to a nationwide FBI terror investigation involving Somali American youths linked to al-Qaeda:

"The Noor Center has also been directly tied to the ongoing nationwide investigation into Somali-American youths who have left the U.S. to train in terror camps operated by the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab terror organization. CNN has identified Columbus as one of the main centers of the FBI's investigation. This story was recently the subject of a lengthy front-page New York Times story. One Minneapolis mosque leader who has been named by others in the Somali community as allowing Al-Shabaab recruiters to operate in his mosque was a featured speaker at a Noor Center Somali youth conference just last November. And a Noor Center Somali youth has appeared repeatedly with another Minneapolis imam who has been questioned by the FBI regarding more than a dozen of mosque attendees who have left under such circumstances and been placed by the Department of Homeland Security on the no-fly list."

If even some of the above allegations are correct, Ms. Bary, after becoming a Christian, was certainly in danger, both from her family as well as members of the Noor Center.

In a fundamentalist interpretation of Islam, leaving the faith is a grave offense called apostasy, which is punishable by death under Shari'a or Islamic law.

Though many counter-terror researchers routinely write about many of the attributes of radical Islam in America and the threat it poses through direct religiously endorsed violence as well as the underground guerilla operation we have called the stealth jihad [the use of America's freedoms and rights to subvert the system from the inside], it isn't often that all of these elements are revealed in a single example.

It is for this reason that should the above allegations be proven, the case of Fathima Rifqa Bary is such a potential watershed, casting light into the inner workings of radical Islam.

©1999-2009 PipeLineNews.org LLC, William Mayer, Beila Rabinowitz. All rights reserved.; October 1, 2009 at 6:59 PM
Jeff said...: Terror Goons In Florida Supervise Investigation; October 5, 2009 at 12:07 AM
Jeff said...: Ex-Muslim Rifqa Bary Action Alert!; October 5, 2009 at 10:43 PM
Jeff said...: SURA 4:91: If they keep not aloof from you nor offer you peace nor hold their hands, then take them and kill them wherever ye find them. Against such We have given you clear warrant.

SURA 2:191: And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution is worse than slaughter. And fight not with them at the Inviolable Place of Worship until they first attack you there, but if... they attack you (there) then slay them. Such is the reward of disbelievers.

SURA 2:194: And one who attacketh you, attack him in like manner as he attacked you. Observe your duty to Allah, and know that Allah is with those who ward off (evil).

SURA 2:254: …The disbelievers, they are the wrong-doers.

SURA 4:89: They long that ye should disbelieve even as they disbelieve, that ye may be upon a level (with them). So choose not friends from them till they forsake their homes in the way of Allah; if they turn back (to enmity) then take them and kill them wherever ye find them, and choose no friend nor helper from among them.

5:33
The just retribution for those who fight GOD and His messenger, and commit horrendous crimes, is to be killed, or crucified, or... to have their hands and feet cut off on alternate sides, or to be banished from the land. This is to humiliate them in this life, then they suffer a far worse retribution in the Hereafter.

SURA 9:5: …slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush.

SURA 2:39: But they who disbelieve, and deny Our revelations, such are rightful Peoples of the Fire. They will abide therein.

In Islam, to disobey is to deserve death; the apostates blood, like that of a kafr, is halal.; October 19, 2009 at 6:00 PM
Jeff said...: If there is no compulsion in Islam, then why does Rifqa fear from her family? They show her love and understanding and she misinterprets it as threats on her life? Not likely. She is an honor student, 17 yrs old. She knows the difference between loving disagreement and credible threats.; October 19, 2009 at 6:10 PM
Jeff said...: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostasie_im_Islam#Ein_Urteil_des_Fatwa-Ausschusses_der_Azhar_.C3.BCber_die_T.C3.B6tung_von_Apostaten
(photo of the Arabic original and German translation)

"Al-Azhar. Fatwa Committee.
In the name of the merciful and gracious God.
Question of Mr. Ahmad Dervish, presented a question of Mr. (name not visible), German nationality:
A Muslim man of Egyptian nationality married a woman of Christian faith and German nationality. In mutual agreement of the couple this Muslim entered the Christian religion and joined the Christian faith.
1. What is the verdict of Islam on the status of that person with respect to the Islamic punishments?
2. His children are considered Muslims or Christians? What is the verdict? "

The answer:

"Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds. Blessings and peace be upon the seal of the Prophets, our master Muhammad, his family and all his companions.
We hereby give information: Because he is a Muslim apostate, he is asked to repent. If he shows no remorse, he will be killed following Islamic law.
As for his children, they are underage Muslims. When they reach adulthood and remain in Islam, they are Muslims. If they leave Islam, they are asked to repent. If they show no remorse, they are killed.
And God the Almighty knows best.

(illegible signature):
The chairman of the Fatwa Committee at the Azhar.
Date: 23 September 1978

Seal with coat of arms: The Arab Republic of Egypt. Al-Azhar. The Fatwa Committee at the Azhar.; October 19, 2009 at 6:10 PM
Jeff said...: Muslim Daughter Rejects Marriage, Ends Up Dead; October 19, 2009 at 6:13 PM
Jeff said...: Pakistani Muslim man kills his daughter in Canada for showing skin; October 19, 2009 at 6:15 PM
Jeff said...: Muslim Uncle Burns 11 yr. old Niece For Wearing Lipstick; October 19, 2009 at 6:20 PM
Jeff said...: Someone on another website commented:

"All Islamic schools of Law agree that apostasy from Islam is punishable. It is true that the Quran itself does not decree a punishment. However, there are two decisive Prophetic quotes: “kill those who change their religion” and “it is not allowed to shed the blood of a Muslim, except in 3 cases: married adulterers, life for life (i.e. murder) and those who leave their Faith and separate from the community”. For Hanbali and Maliki, but not for Hanafi and Shafii, apostasy is hadd (hudud), i.e. a crime directly against God punishable by fixed penalties. Hanafi opinion is that a female apostate should not be killed but only imprisoned, and whipped daily, until she returns to Islam (or for life otherwise).
In 1843, an apostate was executed in Istanbul. This remained, for a long time, the least reported case of a death penalty for apostasy, decreed by a legal court (I leave the question open whether the rareness for punishments for apostasy witnesses the tolerance of Islam or is due to the fact that apostasy itself took place rarely until recently). The next took place in 1985 (Mahmud Taha, Sudan, punished for developing an illegal type of Islamic law). A more recent prominent case was the convert Abdul Rahman who was sentenced to death in Afghanistan in 2006 but released (at the initiative of President Karzai, under violation of the independence of the courts guaranteed by the Afghani constitution). In the 20th century, most Islamic states adopted European law. An explicit death penalty for apostasy exists only in a few Islamic countries (Sudan, Yemen). In other counties, apostates may however experiences discrimination notably in family or succession law which is usually oriented on Shariah law. Example: the Egyptian professor Nasr Hamid Abu Zaid was accused of apostasy. Apostasy as such is not punishable in Egypt. However, his marriage was declared null and void in 1995 because a Muslim woman may not be married to an apostate (the accused and his wife therefore left Egypt). Most Islamic countries also declared Islam as their state religion. This allows (under some conditions) to consider apostasy as high treason which is severely punished also in European-style law. For instance, death penalties against Iranian Baha’i are usually based on treason, not on apostasy (although in practice Baha’i never interfere with politics. The Baha’i consider the teachings of the Quran as superseded by the teachings of other prophets sent in 1844ff.). Islam being a state religion also implies that Islamic law may supersede state law whenever they are in conflict. Example: If somebody killed an apostate, he acted in accordance with Shariah law and can hence not be punished for murder, according to Egyptian Islamic law experts Sheikh Muhammad Al-Ghazzali and Azhal professor Ahmad Mazru’a, which defended the murderer of the Egyptian author Farag Foda (1992).

If YOU are tolerant to apostates then this is fine. But I don’t think that you would stand a chance when pleading for tolerance in an Islamic law court, or at Al-Azhar university."; October 20, 2009 at 6:02 AM
Jeff said...: Michael Savage and Walid Shoebat on Rifqa Bary; October 21, 2009 at 5:22 PM
Jeff said...: Apostate girl's father lied repeatedly on visa applications, is in U.S. illegally; October 22, 2009 at 9:49 AM
Jeff said...: A Powerful Doctrine of Cruelty and Hate – Attempted “Honor Killing” (Arizona); October 23, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Jeff said...: Friday, October 23, 2009 - Judge Orders Rifqa Bary back to Ohio Despite Islamic Threat UPDATE: Rifqa is on her way back to Ohio NOW (also includes a list of other honor killings); October 25, 2009 at 3:53 PM

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