THE TSUNĀMI OF ISLAMIC APOSTASY

THE TSUNĀMI OF ISLAMIC APOSTASY

Apostasy in Islam is now quite a movement across the world. There are vast millions who are joining its ranks and millions more who have quit the faith but are keeping their counsel for fear of persecution as apostasy in Islam is punishable by death in a Sharia-ruled state and in general as well the Ummah deems it right to ostracise and persecute apostates by all possible means. But the movement is gathering momentum each passing day. 

In Iran the recent nationwide anti-Hijab protest almost became a revolution but was thwarted through brutal repression. Masah Amini's death still sounds in the desert-silence, sending a thrill through the nerves of revolutionary youths and a chill through the hearts of the ultra-conservative ruling dispensation. 

In North America 24% of the Muslim youth have confirmed rejection of their faith and the numbers are swelling. 

In Saudi Arabia the Crown Prince is being politically expedient in making concessions to the people in lifting repressive religiosocial bans on certain activities and allowing the people greater liberty in the public space. 

Western liberalism is influencing conservative Islamic societies through the internet and it seems this is an irreversible trend that will eventually loosen the stranglehold of Islam on its adherents. 

The ex-Muslims are playing a seminal role in this humanising process, in this rationalising of the social discourse of Muslims worldwide. 

Ironically, western political self-seeking is as yet a hindrance in this liberalising process as the Anglo-Americans continue to mischievously interfere in the governance of Muslim-majority countries as they have historically done, and in so doing often continue to thwart the chances of democracy and peace in these radically religious countries. American Arms Industry continues to thrive by selling ammunition for which the world has to be kept in a state of perpetual warfare. The Middle East is no exception to this influence and suffers a stifling fate, courtesy the bullying big brother from across the Atlantic. 

Through all this and much more---for there is so much that has been left unsaid---the apostates are swelling in number and continuing to undermine the hegemony of Islam over its submitted, nay, suppressed, subjects. Glory unto these young revolutionaries who to my mind are truly spiritual for they have cast fear to the winds to come out into the open and declare, "We are ex-Muslims!"

Written by Sugata Bose