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Sunday, December 09, 2007

Death To The Convert: Daughter of Brit Imam Threatened With Death

Imagine being on the run for more than ten long years. Being forced to move 45 times because you feared for your life; not from strangers, but from your very own family. And simply for choosing to convert to a different religion. That is exactly what happened, a decade ago, to a young British-born Pakistani woman after her father showed up at her doorstep accompanied by her uncle and 40 other men in tow, all "clutching axes, hammers, knives and bits of wood", threatening to kill her because she chose to convert from Islam to Christianity.

"My dad was shouting through the letter box, "I'm going to kill you", while the others smashed on the window and beat the door. "They were shouting, 'We're going to kill you' and 'Traitor'

Calling herself "Hannah" now, for her own protection, the 31-year-old says that she ran away at the age of 16 to avoid an arranged marriage. She was
taken in by a religious education teacher and decided to convert to the Christian faith.
Her parents seemed to tolerate her decision, assuming she would grow out of it eventually. However, the death threats started after they discovered that Hannah, while a student at Manchester University, had been baptized. She's been on the run ever since.

Although she has managed to keep her head intact for that amount of time, she recently asked for police protection after her brother sent a text message to her indicating that
he would not be held responsible for his actions if she failed to return to Islam.
Hmm. It seems that Muslim men have an extremely challenging time taking responsibility for their actions.

Now, I could understand if they were recent immigrants from some Sharia-run country like Iran. They might be ignorant of local laws. But if Hannah was born in Lancashire, that means they've been living in the U.K. for at least 31 years, and there is absolutely no excuse for that kind of barbaric behaviour. If you refuse to adhere to the laws of your host country, then move.

That's what Hannah seems to believe:
"If you make the choice to come to this country, as my parents did from Pakistan, you have to abide by the laws of this country and that means respecting the freedoms of other people."

She goes on to say that

"I know the Koran says anyone who goes away from Islam should be killed as an apostate, so in some ways my family are following the Koran. They are following Islam to the word. But I do not think every Muslim would act on that."
Maybe not all, but even one is one too many. It's ironic that a religion that purports to be a religion of peace obsesses so much on death.

And one would expect a parent to love and care for their children regardless of the choices they make in life, obviously not if you're Muslim.

14 comments:

lizze said...

The Muslim men behaving like this are stuck in the Stone Ages.

Actually strike that - I believe they didn't do ANY of this nonsense back in the Stone Ages.

Controlling, weak-minded, got-nothing-better-to-worry-about, honour-retarded are some of the words that comes to mind.

As I said before, once women and petty things are involved, then their riot mode goes in high gear.

Hope the UK police takes this v seriously and look after this UK citizen!!!

Aurora said...

Great post, Incognito. That's amazing that they could live in a free country for 31 years and still behave in this way. Sadly, it goes to show that multiculturalism doesn't always work. There needs to be strong expectation of integration, including learning the language and customs of the host country. This kind of behavior needs to be strictly prohibited and punished, but will it? I'll be very surprised.

Pat Jenkins said...

boy this is disturbing on two fronts incog... first how "religion" is so demanding of ritualisitc compliance and how those who are "religous" never are changed from within. to even as go as far as to demand death for one's own preferred lifestyle shows how out of control this way of following is.. unfortunately religious actions do not stop with islam!!!

Karen Townsend said...

THis is a terrible story. The worst part is it's an actual news story in the first place. Not some fantasy. I saw a short story on this yesterday. Thanks for the additional info.

The Brits have turned a blind eye to this abhorrant behavior for far too long and this is what it reaps.

Melanie said...

It is interesting how Christianity and Islam have the same type of believers in the sense of interpreting their book. Christians interpret the bible in so many ways..some literal, some not so literal...and then you have the Muslims interpreting the Koran in so many ways as well. It is amazing how Islam has spread like it has...and I would think it would be a great idea to take it a little more seriously..for the literal interpretations of the Koran seem to be spreading.

Stylin said...

Hi Incog,
My aunt lives in England and I was always shocked when they talked of young girls being forced into arrabged marriages !
I guess their values never change wherever they go!

Pilgrim said...

Heartbreaking. I can't imagine what would possess a father to wish harm on his daughter let alone be the one willing to carry out such heinous behaviour.

WomanHonorThyself said...

pathetic example of the Religion of Peace again..pfftt!..great work Incog!

Incognito said...

LIZZE: I agree. The whole religion has taken steps back into the dark ages. I think the police are taking it seriously and providing protection, however why should she have to live that way? Something needs to be done about the fanaticism of those who interpret the Koran so literally.

AURORA: Thank you. It does defy logic. But I think many Muslims, if they weren't already conservative, are becoming increasingly so. That's what was so wonderful about Australia and Howard's emphasis on integration. It should be punished, but like you I think it won't be, because of fear. I just wonder if it's too late, and through our PC attitudes if we've doomed ourselves.

Incognito said...

PATJ: It *is* disturbing and I totally agree with you. It isn't only Islam. I think fanaticism in any form and with any religion is dangerous.

KAREN: I know. I think it's a lesson for all. Hopefully our country won't tread down the same road.

MONDAY: Very true. I don't think any religious book is meant to be interpreted literally, other than the obvious "Thou shalt not kill" etc.. Many of these religious laws were written for those particular times, which were very different than modern times. Religion needs to evolve, and sadly Islam has never done so.

And indeed, we're not taking it seriously enough!

Incognito said...

FRASY: I don't have a problem with arranged marriages, when the participants have a choice.. as you have explained before. I do have a major problem with being forced to remain in a particular religion, and being threatened with death.

PILGRIM: Fanaticism has a way of distorting things. Sad that this is all being done in the name of God.

WOMAN: Thanks Angel. Yeah.. peace.

Pat Jenkins said...

incog you wouldn't like an arranged marriage would ya? not saying they couldn't work out. but don't you want to pick your own slave, excuse me, mate?

Incognito said...

Actually, PJ, being single, it might not be so bad.. ;-)

and yes, of course, one should choose one's mate... then you have no-one to blame but yourself.. ;-)

Pat Jenkins said...

be careful of what or who ya wish for huh?