Iran’s Apostasy Bill

Last month, Iran’s parliament overwhelmingly approved a bill that would make apostasy (converting from Islam to another religion) punishable by death.

The Christian human rights group, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, has applauded the European Union for issuing a declaration that urges Iran to drop its draft apostasy bill.

“The European Union urges the Islamic Republic of Iran to reconsider its decision to examine the law in question, release all those who have been imprisoned because of their religious affiliation and allow all its citizens to exercise their freedom of religion or belief in full,” read the EU letter. The EU also expressed concerns over the arrests of members of religious minorities, including Iranian converts to Christianity and members of the Bahai community. The EU called for their “immediate” and “unconditional” release, and the end to all “forms of violence and discrimination against them.”

Last Fall, 138 Muslims leaders issued a letter, A Common Word Between Us and You , inviting “Christians to come together with us on the basis of what is common to us, which is also what is most essential to our faith and practice: the Two Commandments of love.” Quoting the Qur’an’s injunction, “Let there be no compulsion in religion,” the Muslim scholars tell us that this command “clearly relates to the Second Commandment and to love of the neighbor of which justice and freedom of religion are a crucial part.”

Maybe the Mullahs in Iran didn’t get the letter. Or maybe they did and just don’t consider apostates their neighbor.