Ex-Muslim 'Apostates' Organize in Europe

Ex-Muslim 'Apostates' Organize in Europe [Excerpts]

An Iranian-born Dutch politician under fire from Muslims for his dissenting views on Islam on Tuesday officially launched an organization to support people who have renounced the religion.

Ehsan Jami, a 22-year old Labor Party member elected to the council of a city near The Hague last year, announced at a press conference the establishment of an organization called the Committee for Ex-Muslims.

Similar groups have begun in recent months in Britain, Germany and Scandinavian countries.

According to leading Islamic schools of thought, apostasy is a crime, punishable by death in the case of a sane male who renounces his faith. Jami also is controversial for his strong public comments on Islam, including the view expressed last June that Mohammed, the Islamic prophet, was a "criminal."

At a press conference, timed for the sixth anniversary of 9/11 and attended by leaders from the British and German organizations, Jami declared that Islam was not a religion of peace.

"It's a religion of submission ... of its followers, submission of Christians, Jews, Buddhists, atheists, infidels, the whole world," he was quoted as saying.

Last month, he was attacked by three men, in an incident believed to be linked to his views and the new organization. Although Jami was not hurt in what his spokesman said was the third such incident, Dutch law enforcement agencies decided to provide additional security for him.

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