---

AP, via the Jerusalem Post, USA
Aug. 22, 2007
www.jpost.com

---

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Item 19119 • Posted: Friday August 24, 2007  

---

OSLO, Norway — Two important Christian and Muslim groups signed a joint declaration Wednesday supporting the right to convert between religions without fear of harassment as a basic religious freedom.

The Church of Norway Council on Ecumenical and International Relation and the Islamic Council of Norway, which have met regularly since 1993, said they believe this is the world’s first such joint declaration by national religious organizations.

“As far as we know, this is the first time that a church and representative national Muslim organization have jointly acknowledged the right to convert,” said Olav Fykse Tveit, secretary general of church council. “By issuing this declaration we hope to contribute to the international process on this important matter.”

About 85 percent of Norway’s 4.7 million people are members of the state Lutheran Church of Norway. There are about 72,000 registered Muslims.

“We reject and want to work against violence, discrimination and harassment due to a person wanting to convert or having converted from one religion to another,” said the declaration, signed by Tveit and Shoaib M. Sutlan, secretary general of the Islamic Council.

Sultan said conversion between Islam and Christianity was uncommon in Norway, “but it is still important to establish this important principle.”

Under many interpretations of Sharia, or strict Islamic law, conversion from Islam is forbidden, and can have serious consequences.

---

What You Can Do From Here

---

Read More Articles On These Topics Categories: Christianity, Islam, Religious Tolerance Share, Blog About, Bookmark, or Email This Article Subscribe Religion News Blog RSS feed [What is this?] RSS by topic: Christianity, Islam, Religious Tolerance Read Another Article Previous entry: Australia: Muslim immigration likened to bird flu Next entry: Jury rules against man in dispute over Texas evangelist at school RNB Homepage with latest headlines Find Related Information Use our custom search engines to find additional research resources on religions and cults Find Related Books Christianity Most Popular Today Scientology’s feet held to the fire in Australia: Struggle between a church and the state

---

Share This Article

---

To share this page simply copy and paste one of these URL's:

• Post a link on your blog or website:
  
• Send in an email or IM:
  
• Post on a forum:
  

Search for information about (religious) cults, cult-like organizations, -- as well as paranormal-, New Age, and pseudoscientific claims -- across 260+ websites, blogs and forums dedicated to cult research, spiritual abuse, ex-cult counseling & support.

Note: results are listed on another domain -- CounterCultSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.

Search for apologetics articles, books, videos, and other research resources across 135 Christian apologetics websites and blogs.

Note: results are listed on another domain -- ApologeticsSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.