Is there anything in the religion of Islam that would violate any of
the human rights found in the United Nations' Universal Declaration of
Human rights?  I heard that if someone is muslim and renounces his/her
religion, Islam says that he/she should be killed.  This would seem to
violate the freedom of religion part of the declaration of human
rights.

A good answer would list any Islamic beliefs (need not be exhaustive)
that violate the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the
source of the belief in the religion (such as verses from the Koran),
and the source of the human right (such as a quote from the UN UDHR).

Islam isn't a nation, and is therefore not a signatory of any
convention on human rights. Your question should be whether the law or
practices in any predominantly Muslim nation violate the UN
Declaration on Human Rights. But to be fair, you should also consider
whether the law or practices in any NON-Muslim countries breach the UN
Declaration - I think you'd find that many Muslim AND non-Muslim
countries are violate the Convention.

I dont think that you(geof) understood his question, he wants to know
what teachings in the islamic religion violates the UN universal
declaration of human rights, he (probably) doesnt care about the
political aspect of the question(which you only focused on)

which counrty that violates or does not violate the declaration is
secondary to the fact that the "islamic religion" does or does not
teach stuff that violates the declaration.

I don't think I misunderstood the question. I just don't think that,
as phrased, it's a question to which there's an answer that would lead
anywhere sensible. To put it more plainly, I think the answer is -
yes, there are things in the Koran that are not in line with the UN
Declaration of Human Rights. Also, in the Bible; also, in the Talmud;
also in Hindu holy scriptures, etc, etc.

>> To put it more plainly, I think the answer is -
yes, there are things in the Koran that are not in line with the UN
Declaration of Human Rights. Also, in the Bible; also, in the Talmud;
also in Hindu holy scriptures, etc, etc.

That does not make this question "which there's an answer that would lead
anywhere sensible"

In fact, you yourself answered "Yes" and what more the question seeks is specifics.

Yes, other religions may also have similar things. It is a
questioner's prerogative to focus his question on that which he is
interested in knowing. If I ask "Which of Ford SUVs gives less than 15
miles per gallon?", are you going to tell me the question is
fallacious because it doesnot include GM or Chrysler or any of the
imports ?

Yes, there are statements in the Koran that are not in line with the
UN Declaration of Human Rights, but I agree with Geof's pointing out
that not just the Koran and not just prodominantly Muslim countries
violate the Declaration.
Why?  Because I would want to temper my comment on the subject to
avoid appearing to have anti-Islamic feelings and thereby perhaps in
an open forum fueling such.

Religions with strict beliefs and nations with a state religion have
often dealt harshly with apostates or those whom they felt were such: 
members of new sects, witches.

I will agree on this,

Facts put "every" religion and its followers on the defensive.

Sir with due respect I disagree with your comments as Islam has
nothing that is against the UN's Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, Here is the Link to the Declaration
http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html, Feel free to quote me which
Article's of the Declaration you feel are against the teachings and
beliefs of Islam as a code of life.
Islam is an organized system of beliefs and practices that is
Universal in nature and applicable to all, ir-respective of the
cultural differences n practices.
One has to be careful in diffrentiating between local practices that
they see in Muslim Societies worldwide and the Teachings of Islam....
Please provide me with the differences and I will make it clear for
you why the UN'S Universal Declaration was inspired from the Teachings
of Islam worldwide
Thanks

The answer and comments to this question may be if interest:
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=442176

Whyislam-ga,
It is very hard to reconcile some of the Koran's statements about the
treatment of Muslims who turn away from Islam with Art. 18 of the UN
Declaration of Human Rights, but as mentioned above, statements in the
Jewish and in the Christian parts of the Bible also are at odds with
the Declaration.  And, I will readily agree that those Koran
statements are NOT "the teachings and beliefs of Islam as a code of
life," which is well expressed distinction.

Regards, Myoarin

This should answer your question

Contrary to popular belief, the struggle for universal human rights is
not a modern one. Although some claim that the idea of human rights is
a Western concept or ideology, Islam was the first institution to
advocate and implement such human rights as universal equality and
women?s rights. In fact, Islam promoted the universality of the human
experience over 1300 years before the United Nations declared it to
exist.

Human rights in Islam have been granted by Allah (God), and no
individual or legislative assembly has the right to amend, change, or
withdraw them. Every Muslim or administrator who claims to be Muslim
must accept, recognize and enforce these rights. All those temporal
authorities who claim to be Muslims yet violate the rights sanctioned
by Allah are either disbelievers or wrong-doers.

Islam grants certain basic human rights to all people, Muslims and
non-Muslims, and regardless of their race, nationality, ethnic origin
or language. The first of these rights is the right to live and
respect human life. Only a proper and competent court of law can
decide to take a life in retaliation for murder or for punishment for
spreading corruption on the earth. Only a properly established
government can decide to wage war. No human being has the right by
himself to take a human life for retaliation or for causing mischief
on the earth.

Every human has the right to the safety of life. This means that if
someone is ill, wounded, starving, or drowning, et cetera, he has the
right to be saved.
 
Islam grants every woman the right to have her chastity respected and
guarded under all circumstances. Even in war, a woman who is of the
enemy nation cannot be violated. All promiscuous relationships are
forbidden to a Muslim, irrespective of the status or position of the
woman, and whether or not she is a willing partner to the act.

All people have the right to a basic standard of life. Anyone who is
suffering from deprivation has a right in the property and wealth of
the Muslims.

Islam grants the individual the right to freedom. It is categorically
forbidden to capture a free person and make him a slave or sell him
into slavery.

Islam recognizes absolute equality between people. There is no
superiority of Arab over non-Arab, white over black, or vice-versa.
All people are descended from Adam and are as brothers and sisters.

Islam prescribes the general principle of the right to cooperate and
not to co operate. Any person who undertakes a noble and righteous
work has the right to expect the Muslims to cooperate with him or
support him. The one who perpetrates vice and aggression does not have
the right to the Muslims? support and cooperation.

These are general human rights that Islam gives to all. There are
other rights set down by Islam dealing with issues such as the rights
of citizens in an Islamic state and the rights of enemies during times
of war.



REGARDING THE APOSTATE THIS WAS ALSO ADDRESSED FROM WWW.ISLAMONONLINE.NET

Should an Apostate Be Put to Death? 
Question:: Respected scholars, as-salamu `alaykum. Is it true that in
Islam a person must be put to death if he or she converts to another
religion? Jazakum Allahu khayran.
 
Date 27/Mar/2006 
Mufti Ahmad Kutty 
Topic Apostasy 
Answer 
Wa`alaykum as-salamu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be
upon His Messenger.

Dear brother in Islam, thanks a lot for your question, which reflects
your care to have a clear view of the teachings of Islam. Allah
commands Muslims to refer to knowledgeable people to learn more about
the teachings of Islam.

It is absurd for anyone to suggest that Islam advocates killing people
who choose to leave Islam. To kill anyone who chooses to follow a
religion other than Islam is against the fundamental teachings of the
Qur'an. Freedom of conscience is a fundamental principle of the Qur'an
that is clearly stated. Thus, if apostates cause no harm to the Muslim
community and do not call for spreading hostility towards Islam, they
should not to be punished; rather they should be advised kindly and
wisely to learn the truth about Islam.

In his response to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior
lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto,
Ontario, Canada, states the following:

Freedom of conscience is one of the fundamental rights of humans
enshrined in the Qur'an; it is therefore, absurd for anyone to suggest
that Islam allows putting people to death just because they convert to
another religion.

Even a casual reader of the Qur'an will not fail to be impressed by
its emphasis on the freedom of conscience as a cornerstone of its
moral structure. To cite a few verses as follows:

[There shall be no compulsion in religion. Distinct has now become the
right way from [the wayof] error: hence, he who rejects the powers of
evil and believes in God has indeed taken hold of a support most
unfailing, which shall never give way: for God is all-hearing,
all-knowing] ( Al-Baqarah 2:256)

[If it had been your Lord's will, all who are in the earth would have
believed. Will you, then, force the people to become believers?]
(Yunus 10:99)

[And if they surrender themselves unto Him (i.e. God), they are on the
right path; but if they turn away ? behold, thy duty (O Muhammad,) is
no more than to deliver the message: for God sees all that is in [the
hearts of] His creatures.] (Aal `Imran 3:20)

[Hence, pay heed unto God, and pay heed unto the Messenger, and be
ever on your guard [against evil]; and if you turn away, then know
that Our Messenger's only duty is a clear delivery of the message
[entrusted to him].] (Al-Ma'idah 5:92)

[But if they turn away [from thee, O Prophet, know that] Wehave not
sent thee to be their keeper: thou art not bound to do more than
deliver the message [entrusted to thee] .] (Ash-Shura 42:48)

I should further state that all of the moral teachings of the Qur'an
are based on the notion of moral responsibility, which entails the
freedom of choice. Therefore, to state that one must be put to death
for choosing to disbelieve would only undermine the entire moral
edifice of the Qur'an.

Furthermore, the Qur'an does not allow anyone to harm those who are
leaving in peace, no matter what religion they hold on to. This
principle has been clearly stated in the Qur'an as follows:

[Thus, if they let you be, and do not make war on you, and offer you
peace, God does not allow you to harm them.] (An-Nisaa' 4:90)

In pursuance of this policy, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon
him) issued clear directives to his soldiers never to disturb those
who are engaged in any form of worship. The policy of living and
letting others to live is firmly enshrined in the following verses:

[Say: O disbelievers! I do not worship what you worship, Nordo you
worship what I worship. ... to you your religion, and to me, mine.]
(Al-Kafirun 109:1-3, 6)

In full conformity with the above teachings, neither the Prophet
(peace and blessings be upon him) nor any of the four rightly guided
caliphs who succeeded him were in the habit of hunting down people and
executing them for merely changing their religions. Rather, they
refrained from doing so except in rare cases involving treason.
Treason, however, is another matter. The punishment for treason in the
Qur'an is as strict as it is in the Hebrew Bible. But it must never be
confused with mere change of religion.

In conclusion, it is absurd for anyone to suggest that Islam advocates
killing people who covert to another religion.

Excerpted, with slight modifications, from www.islam.ca.

WOuld that all Muslims, Mufti, and especially all Islamic law-makers,
understood the Qur'an in this way.  Unfortunately since this question
was posted (Feb.1st), we know that the law in Afghanistan takes a
different view, which however has not been followed in the case of
Abdul Rahman.
Let us hope that this will set a precedent.