An author and critic of Islam says a recent incident illustrates the blatant double-standard that exists in Islamic-dominated countries when it comes to proselytizing people of other religions.
A lawyer says Malaysian police recently arrested nine Christians accused of trying to convert Muslim university students to Christianity. Annou Xavier, who is representing the suspects, points out they have denied the allegation. Proselytizing of Muslims by members of other religions is a serious crime, punishable by prison in that Muslim-majority country. However, Muslims are allowed to try to convert non-Muslims to their religion. Muslims are not legally able to change from their religion to another one. Robert Spencer, the director of Jihad Watch, says unfortunately this is the religious pattern throughout the Islamic world. "There is no majority Muslim country -- not even secular Turkey -- that allows for proselytization by Christians...but Muslim proselytizing is just fine. And it just manifests, once again, the double-standard that we see all over the world, that Muslims demand the building of larger and more imposing mosques in the West; and yet churches are not allowed to be built in Saudi Arabia," he notes. "When [a church is] built in neighboring countries -- there was one built recently in Qatar -- ...it has to be very inconspicuous -- a very nondescript building [with] no cross on the outside [and with] all sorts of concessions to Islamic sensibilities, which are never reciprocated." Spencer contends this double-standard is taken for granted.
A lawyer says Malaysian police recently arrested nine Christians accused of trying to convert Muslim university students to Christianity. Annou Xavier, who is representing the suspects, points out they have denied the allegation. Proselytizing of Muslims by members of other religions is a serious crime, punishable by prison in that Muslim-majority country. However, Muslims are allowed to try to convert non-Muslims to their religion. Muslims are not legally able to change from their religion to another one. Robert Spencer, the director of Jihad Watch, says unfortunately this is the religious pattern throughout the Islamic world. "There is no majority Muslim country -- not even secular Turkey -- that allows for proselytization by Christians...but Muslim proselytizing is just fine. And it just manifests, once again, the double-standard that we see all over the world, that Muslims demand the building of larger and more imposing mosques in the West; and yet churches are not allowed to be built in Saudi Arabia," he notes.
"When [a church is] built in neighboring countries -- there was one built recently in Qatar -- ...it has to be very inconspicuous -- a very nondescript building [with] no cross on the outside [and with] all sorts of concessions to Islamic sensibilities, which are never reciprocated." Spencer contends this double-standard is taken for granted.
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