Former Muslim receiving death threats

I don't take pleasure in denigrating someone else's religion but sometimes things have to be brought out into the light so that everyone knows exactly what we are dealing with.

The following are two articles that I received in the past few days and they might be an eye opener for you.

The first is from a Tulsa newspaper and the second was sent to me by a reader.

I have reproduced them in their entirety so you get the full meaning of the articles.


By BILL SHERMAN World Religion Writer, Tulsa World!

Sabri Husibi, a former Muslim who is now an atheist, says he has been ostracized and threatened with death since publication of a Tulsa World article Saturday in which he was critical of Islam and all other religions.

The article was written to promote a talk he gave the next day to the Tulsa Atheists organization.

Husibi, who has an unlisted telephone number, said he received about 30 calls Saturday from people who were cursing him, calling him a traitor and threatening him.

Most were foreign-born, Tulsa-area Muslims whom he knows, he said. He also received angry calls from friends and relatives in Syria.

One caller, whom Husibi would not identify, said that if he spoke at the meeting and said anything against Shariah (Islamic law), he would be killed.

Another caller offered Husibi's young Muslim wife $10,000 to leave him and return to her native Syria, he said.

"Someone from Tulsa called my 76-year-old mother in Syria and said, 'You're not going to see your son anymore,' " he said.

His critics' chief objection, he said, was to his statement that the Quran was written by men, not God, and has been changed over the years. They also objected to his comment that al-Qaida is respected by many Muslims.

Bill Dusenberry of the Tulsa Coalition of Reason, of which Tulsa Atheists is a member, said he offered Saturday afternoon to cancel the Sunday talk, but Husibi wanted to go ahead with it.

"It showed a lot of courage," Dusenberry said.

Husibi said he takes the threats seriously. Before Sunday's talk, Dusenberry notified Tulsa police, who said they would be alert to any possible trouble.

On Tuesday, a clearly shaken Husibi asked that any future articles emphasize that he is not attacking Islam alone but all religions, including "fundamentalist Christians like Timothy McVeigh and fundamentalist Jews who kill Muslim children in the Gaza Strip."

He said Tulsa Muslims are awaiting an apology from him.

"I won't apologize," he said. "I'm not going to be a chicken. This is my right, to give my point of view."

Hussam Albakri, Husibi's second cousin, said he was surprised about the threats "because that's not what our religion teaches us."

Razi Hashmi, executive director of the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, an Islamic civil-rights organization, said Husibi's comments are protected as free speech.

"He has the right to make them without being threatened," he said.

"Husibi apparently doesn't like all religions," Hashmi said, "and puts them all in the same category. But that doesn't give him the justification to make false assumptions, like saying the Quran has changed over time. That's historically and factually false."

Hashmi also said polls show that very few Muslims around the world support al-Qaida's extremist views.

He said the Quran teaches in chapter 2, verse 256, "Let there be no compulsion in religion."

Sheryl Siddiqui, a spokeswoman for the Islamic Society of Tulsa, said she had received one e-mail about the matter.

"There was no discussion about him at the mosque this week," she said.

Husibi was born and raised in Damascus, Syria, and attended Quran school as a young man.

He became an atheist after years of studying religion and serving as a soldier in the Syrian army during the Lebanon civil war.

He moved to Tulsa 10 years ago at age 35.

Now here is the letter I got in the mail the other day.

Apparently it's a true story although I can't swear to it!

Last month I attended my annual training session that's required for maintaining my federal prison security clearance. During the training session there was a presentation by three speakers representing the Roman Catholic, Protestant and Muslim faiths, who explained each of their beliefs.

I was particularly interested in what the Islamic Imam had to say. The Imam gave a great presentation of the basics of Islam, complete with a video.

After the presentations, time was provided for questions and answers.

When it was my turn, I directed my question to the Imam and asked: 'Please, correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand that most Imams and clerics of Islam have declared a holy jihad [Holy war] against the infidels of the world and, that by killing an infidel, (which is a command to all Muslims) they are assured of a place in heaven.

If that's the case, can you give me the definition of an infidel?'

There was no disagreement with my statements and, without hesitation, he replied, 'Non-believers!'

I responded, 'So, let me make sure I have this straight. All followers of Allah have been commanded to kill everyone who is not of your faith so they can have a place in heaven. Is that correct?'

The expression on his face changed from one of authority and command to that of a little boy who had just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.'

He sheepishly replied, 'Yes.'

I then stated, 'Well, sir, I have a real problem trying to imagine Pope John Paul commanding all Catholics to kill those of your faith or Dr. Stanley ordering all Protestants to do the same in order to guarantee them a place in heaven!'

The Imam was speechless!

I continued, 'I also have a problem with being your friend when you and your brother clerics are telling your followers to kill me! Let me ask you a question: Would you rather have your Allah, who tells you to kill me in order for you to go to heaven, or my Jesus who tells me to love you because I am going to heaven and He wants you to be there with me?'

You could have heard a pin drop as the Imam hung his head in shame. Needless to say, the organizers and/or promoters of the Diversification training seminar were not happy with my way of dealing with the Islamic Imam, and exposing the truth about the Muslims' beliefs.

In twenty years there will be enough Muslim voters in Canada to elect the Prime Minister!

I think everyone in Canada should be required to read this, there is no way this will be widely publicized, unless each of us send it on! This is your chance to make a difference...

There they are kids!

I won't comment on them, but rather leave it up to you to make up your own mind!


Allan W Janssen is the author of the book The Plain Truth About God (What the mainstream religions don't want you to know......!) and is available as an E-Book H E R E! and H E R E! And as a paperback H E R E ! and H E R E !