Category: Islam

Islam is a diverse religion with sects ranging from liberal to ultra-conservative. The media often roughly divides Muslims in those who follow a so-called ‘moderate Islam’ from those who condone, promote and/or engage in acts of violence and terrorism on behalf of Islam.

Like other religions Islam also has cults — movements whose teachings violate one or more of the essential tenets of Islam.

The vast majority of Muslims are people who have been born into the religion. Leaving Islam — in favor of another religion or of atheism — is difficult, as those who do so usually are rejected by family, friends and the larger community. In Islam, apostasy is punishable by imprisonment or death.

€¢ Research resources on Islam

Belgium court charges six people in deadly exorcism of Muslim woman

Latifa Hachmi A court in Brussels opened the trial of six people charged in connection with the 2004 murder of a young Muslim woman in a deadly act of exorcism, a practice of evicting demons or other spiritual entities from a person believed to be possessed.

The woman was reportedly deceived into believing that she could not have children because she was possessed and that she had to undergo a practice of exorcism.

Bible School, Church Buildings Attacked in Sudan

Sudan Christians faced increased hostilities in Sudan over the past few weeks, culminating in an attack on a Christian compound in Khartoum by a throng of Muslim extremists armed with clubs, iron rods, a bulldozer and fire.

Breaking down the compound wall with a bulldozer, the assailants set fire to the Gerief West Bible School and the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church (SPEC) building; they also damaged three other places of worship and other buildings in the same compound.

Muslim Assailants in Egypt Escape Prosecution

Egypt A recent “reconciliation meeting” between members of a Muslim mob that attacked a Christian-owned school in Egypt and school administrators was nothing less than an attempt at legalized extortion, the director of the school said.

In exchange for peace, members of the sword-wielding mob that stormed the school last month without provocation — and held two nuns hostage for several hours — initially demanded in the meetings that the school sign over parcels of land that include the guesthouse the Muslim extremists attacked.

Court in Egypt Sentences Young Christian for ‘Insulting Islam’

Egypt In a show of partiality to Muslims who go unprosecuted for like offenses against Christianity, a juvenile court in Egypt sentenced a Coptic Christian teenager to three years in prison for allegedly insulting Islam.

The court claimed that he posted cartoons on his Facebook account in December that mocked the Islamic religion and its prophet, Muhammad.