Italy: Muslim to Christian converts living in fear of retaliation

Recent reports have revealed that over a thousand Christian converts from Islam live in fear of retaliation against them from the Muslim community in Italy.

Such cases where Muslims who converted to Christianity hide their faith out of fear of being targetted by Islamic extremists have been going on for a while. Breitbart reported a 55-year-old waiter in Italy, who was previously a chemical engineer in Egypt, expressed his frustration with not having the freedom to openly practice his Christian faith. What scares him is Muslims inflicting harm to him or his relatives.

The man, a Muslim who converted to Christianity after the death of his mother in Italy asked to remain anonymous, and questioned the unequal freedom between Muslims and Christians in Italy. He questioned how Christians who convert to Islam can freely talk about their faith, while Muslims who convert to Christianity have to hide to avoid reprisal.

While it is apparent that conversion to another faith is punishable in Islamic countries, Christian converts from these countries suffer and live under a threat of harm to their families, even whilst living in western countries.

Islamic scholar Father Samir Khalil Samir said even in a land of emigration, converts would have to live and practice their faith privately because the 'apostate' or the converts are considered to have betrayed their faith, community, and nation and is subject to threats, violence, and disapproval. Samir says that the problem stems from the all-inclusive Islamic view of society and religion.

There have been several cases of retaliation by murder, violence and extortion by Islamic mobs against Christians in Pakistan. Christian Post recently reported a Pakistani Christian and father of five was tortured and threatened by Muslim co-workers forcing him to convert to Islam. The increasing number of violent acts over the past several months instill fear to Christians.

In 2014, faith-based group Christian Concern launched a national network of safe houses in Britain for up to 3,000 Christian converts who were fighting ostracism or violent retaliations for "apostatizing."