Prince Charles Urges Abolishment of Muslim Death Penalty for Converts

The Prince of Wales, Charles George, has held a private summit of Christian and Muslim leaders at Clarence House this month, aiming to abolish the Muslim death penalty on converts to other faiths, reports the Daily Telegraph.

According to traditional Islamic laws, Muslims must be executed if they convert to other faiths. So many converted Christians in Islamic states around the world face persecution and even death under this law. The violation of human rights has outraged campaigners as it has already resulted in hundreds of unjust executions in countries from Iran to Sudan.

As an advocate of interfaith dialogue, Prince Charles intervened in the issue. However, some Muslim groups have requested that the Prince and other non-Muslims not publicise the discussion. Many believe this it is because the Islamic moderates could have more influence on the traditional position internally.

Patrick Sookhdeo, the International Director of the Barnabas Fund, however insists that the debate should be open. He also mentioned the details of the meeting were in fact leaked.

"My view, and I think the other Christians shared it, is that when something is wrong it must be stated as a wrong," Sookhdeo said.

Sookhdeo urged the Prince and Muslim leaders in Britain to criticise openly the traditional Islamic law on apostasy, calling for it to be abolished throughout the world. Barnabas Fund is a UK-based Christian charity, which campaigns for persecuted Christians abroad.

The Christian representatives attending the confidential meeting included the Bishops of London and Rochester, the Archbishop of Kaduna (where Islamic Sharia law is enforced) in Nigeria, the Most Rev Josiah Idowu-Fearon, and a representing bishop from the Orthodox Church.

Islamic scholar Zaki Badawi, Sayyed Yousef al-Khoei, the director of the London-based Al-Khoei Foundation, and Sher Khan, of the Islamic Society of Britain, represented the Muslims.

Sources say that a member of the Christian group said he was "very, very unhappy" about the outcome of the meeting.