Barnabas Fund Presents Apostasy Campaign Petition to the UN

(ANS) – A major international petition signed by 88,890 people from 32 countries calling for “Muslims who choose to convert to another faith” to be “free to do so without having to face a lifetime of fear as a result,” was presented by Barnabas Fund on Wednesday, July 28 to Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. According to a Barnabas Fund press release, the petition was launched a year ago on behalf of Muslims who convert to another faith (apostates) who face serious persecution and massive prejudice in many countries around the world. In addition to the 88,890 signatures collected from around the world, 92 British MPs last year signed an Early Day Motion in connection with the campaign in the House of Commons which commences: “That this house supports liberal Muslims, human rights campaigners and others who are calling for an end to cruel traditional punishments for apostasy”. Speaking from Barnabas Fund’s office Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, international director of the Fund said “It is a tragic day when so few politician or religious leaders can be found who are prepared to stick their necks out by simply publicly affirming the most basic of human rights to change one’s religion, something that has been enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for over fifty years.”