IRFN (July 26- Aug. 1): Egypt's Grand Mufti Clarifies His Views on Apostasy

Aug 1, 2007

International Religious Freedom Archive
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1. Egypt's Grand Mufti Clarifies His Views on Apostasy (July 26)
2. Conscientious Objector to Stand Trial in Turkmenistan (July 26)
3. Malaysia Gives Greater Jurisdiction to Civil Courts (July 26)
4. Kazakh Authorities Seize House of Baptist Family (July 26)
5. Orthodox Church Given Prominent Status in New Moldovan Law (July 27)
6. China Detains Three Priests not Sanctioned by Government (July 29)

1. Egypt's Grand Mufti Clarifies His Views on Apostasy
July 26 Cairo, Egypt Agence France-Presse reports that Egypt's second-highest religious authority, Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa, has explained his earlier, apparently conflicting statements on how the law should deal with apostasy in Islam. The Grand Mufti clarified that temporal punishments for apostasy would only be considered if the convert "actively engaged in the subversion of society". "Islam affords freedom of belief," the Grand Mufti explained. "I have always maintained the legitimacy of this freedom and I continue to do so."

2. Conscientious Objector to Stand Trial in Turkmenistan
July 26 Mary, Turkmenistan Forum 18 reports that Suleiman Udaev, a Jehovah's Witness, will stand trial August 3 for his refusal to participate in Turkmenistan's compulsory military service, due to his religious beliefs. Udaev is accused of "evading military service" in violation of Article 219, Part I of Turkmenistan's Criminal Code, which mandates up to two years of imprisonment for violations. Up to ten other Jehovah's Witnesses are thought to be in danger of facing similar charges; during the past two weeks three other Jehovah's Witnesses have been convicted of the same charge and received punishments of one- to two-year suspended sentences.

3. Malaysia Gives Greater Jurisdiction to Civil Courts
July 26
Malaysia
Reuters reports that Malaysia's Federal Court, the highest in the land, has decided that some legal cases involving Muslims and non-Muslims shall now be settled in civil courts. Malaysia's system of both civil and Shari'a courts had often created problems of jurisdiction in the past, and left non-Muslims at a disadvantage when their cases were dealt with in Shari'a courts, as they could not be present to defend themselves. On the issue of apostasy, however, civil courts will not be permitted to intervene.

4. Kazakh Authorities Seize House of Baptist Family
July 26
Astana, Kazakhstan
Asia News reports that a mother and her young child were prevented from entering their home by Kazakh authorities, who aimed to prevent the local unregistered Baptist community from holding their meetings at the house. The community in question had been banned from activity for three months, following a ruling by a district court in October 2006. In recent months, the state has threatened to seize homes in lieu of unpaid fines, or to prevent unregistered communities from meeting.

5. Orthodox Church Given Prominent Status in New Moldovan Law
July 27
Moldova
Interfax reports that Moldova's parliament has adopted a new version of the country's religions law, following the president's refusal to sign an earlier draft, which would have allowed new faiths to register more easily. The present law, which includes amendments added by the president, recognizes the "primary role of the Orthodox Christian religion and the Orthodox Church in life, history and culture of the people of Moldova". The new version of the law will also make it more difficult for "sectarian cults" to operate.

6. China Detains Three Priests not Sanctioned by Government
July 29
Inner Mongolia, China
The Associated Press reports that Liang Aijun, Wang Zhong, and Gao Jinbao, Roman Catholic priests from Hebei Province, China, were detained by police in the Chinese region of Inner Mongolia, where the three men had fled in order to avoid arrest. All three are part of the underground Roman Catholic Church in China, and had feared retaliation from the state for their refusal to join a government-run version of the Catholic church, which does not maintain any ties with the Pope. It is unclear what charges, if any, the priests will face.