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Imam's daughter in hiding after her conversion to Christianity sparked death threats
Last updated at 00:37am on 08.12.07
Some Muslims who want to convert are 'living in fear' (Posed by model)
The daughter of a British imam is living under police protection after receiving death threats from her father for converting to Christianity.
The 31-year-old, whose father is the leader of a mosque in Lancashire, has moved house an astonishing 45 times after relatives pledged to hunt her down and kill her.
The British-born university graduate, who uses the pseudonym Hannah for her own safety, said she renounced the Muslim faith to escape being forced into an arranged marriage when she was 16.
She has been in hiding for more than a decade but called in police only a few months ago after receiving a text message from her brother.
In it, he said he would not be held responsible for his actions if she failed to return to Islam.
Officers have agreed to offer her protection in case of an attempt on her life.
Last night the woman said: "I'm determined to live my life the way I want to because I should have that freedom in this country.
"If you make the choice to come to this country, as my parents did from Pakistan, you have to abide by the laws of this country and that means respecting the freedoms of other people.
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Mosque: Muslims who convert away from the religion are considered an apostate
"I know the Koran says anyone who goes away from Islam should be killed as an apostate, so in some ways my family are following the Koran. They are following Islam to the word.
"But I do not think every Muslim would act on that.
"My situation is frightening, but I'm not going to let it frighten me to the extent I can't live my life.
"I pretty much feel like I've lost my family and that's very hard.
"Some days I feel very low and what my father might do preys on my mind. But I regularly change my phone number to avoid him catching up with me.'
Hannah was born in Lancashire to Pakistani parents who raised her and her siblings as strict Sunni Muslims.
She prayed and read the Koran, wore traditional Muslim clothes and was sent to a madrassa, a religious Muslim school.
She ran away from home at 16 after overhearing her father organising her arranged marriage.
Hannah was taken in by a religious education teacher and decided to convert to the Christian faith.
Dr Michael Nazir-Ali: The Bishop of Rochester warns that 'freedom to believe' is under threat in Britain
Although unhappy, her parents tolerated their daughter's dismissal-of Islam as a "teenage phase".
But when she opted to get baptised, while studying at Manchester University, her family were incensed and the death threats began.
Her father arrived at her home with 40 men and threatened to kill her for betraying Islam.
"I saw my uncle and around 40 men storming up the street clutching axes, hammers, knives and bits of wood," she said.
"My dad was shouting through the letter box, "I'm going to kill you", while the others smashed on the window and beat the door.
"They were shouting, 'We're going to kill you' and 'Traitor'.
"It was terrifying. I was convinced I was going to either die, but suddenly after about ten minutes the noise stopped and the men suddenly went away."
Since then Hannah, who gives talks to churches on Islam, has been on the run from her family, often being forced to flee her home with only a few minutes' notice.
After receiving the latest text threat from her brother, in June, she finally went to the police.
No one has been arrested or charged in connection with the death threats, but officers have put her on an "at risk" register and have given her a panic number to call if she fears for her own safety.
Yesterday Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, the Bishop of Rochester, told delegates at the launch of a religious charity that Muslims in Britain who wished to change faiths were living in fear of their lives because of Islamic hostility to conversion.
A study this year found that 36 per cent of British Muslims between 16 and 24 believe those who convert to another religion should be punished by death.
In July an Iranian immigrant to Britain, who converted to Christianity, was saved from deportation after it emerged she would be stoned to death in her own country.
Reader views (19)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
It is so sad that when people born into Christian families convert to Islam no one hears of Christians attacking them or threatening them and yet when Muslims convert to Christianity they live in fear of their lives for ever. However I believe God protects and as Christians we should always pray for the safety of Hannah and other sisters and brothers who have chosen to convert from Islam to Christianity.
To Hannah and others who have converted to Christianity even from other religions apart from Islam only, what I can say is that Jehovah Nissi will be your banner and may He surround you with His mighty protection so that soon you will be able to openly profess your faith without fear of any repercussions.
God bless you.
- Lizzie, Nairobi, Kenya
"How sad that people will take things to the extreme in what is a rather peaceful religion."
- S-M Hearmon, London, UK
How did you come to this conclusion?
From what I have read so far, there is no evidence to support this claim.
- Hyat, UK
Why has no one been arrested?
The Police are as bad as the people threatening this poor young woman's life, they should be working in McDonalds.
- Paul Masters, London
With her parents being 'sunni muslims', they obviously had to convert to Islam at one point in their life - why can't they accept it if their daughter converted to another religion with what she feels comfortable with? It doesn't, or should I say 'shouldn't' matter which way you choose to believe in god - there is only one god isn't there?
- Raul, Leicester - UK
Awful lot of people on here making ironic statements about Islam and Muslims. We're talking about a small group of people here, they don't represent Muslims any more than I represent all of the Christians. It's that sort of lazy talk that breeds hatred and intolerance. If you think you're "better" than this lynch mob then prove it by denouncing the individuals concerned, and not the religion they masquerade behind.
- Milt, Shooters Hill
So when will we see the father in court?
- Mm, London
Speaking as a non Muslim, I fail to see the positive side of this religion. Some muslims encourage others to die for their faith and if they turn their back on their faith they want to kill them. How can they win? It is not surprising that as people turn to radicallism for their beliefs, some just turn their back on those beliefs. This only happens when they become dissillusioned which I imagine is happening more and more. If your faith is hijacked by a set of malcontents you would be more inclined to abandon it and chooses one that better suits your moral beliefs.
- Dan, Manchester
Stop moaning.
Write to you MPs.
- Harrysingh, Southall
Why haven't the family members making the death threats been arrested and charged, at the very least, with threatening behaviour? And if she needs police protection, then surely those she needs protection from should be sued (by the state) for the cost of providing it.
Her harrassment (or worse) has been going on for ten years. Society needs to make a stand (and should have made it eight or nine years ago). The time for "toleration" of the intolerable should be long gone.
- Nigel, London
Islam has failed to make these people morally better. They need some other kind of help.
- John H. Evans, London, U.K.
Best of luck to this brave young women. It is a disgrace that those that are allowed to come to this country and practice their faith in peace, disrespect that same right being allowed to others.
Chin up Hannah, you have plenty of peple on your side.
- Ppitstop77, High Wycombe, Bucks
Death threats being made in the name of a peaceful and tolerant religion. Furthermore death threats being made and no arrests... How absolutely pathetic is this country? Where is the public condemnation of all of this from our politicians and the so-called moderate Muslims of this country?
- R Barker, London, UK
Islam, the religion of peace? Are you 'aving a larf?
- Jack, Sydney, Australia
I would like to make a comment on this, but you know how it is nowadays, you just don't feel safe saying anything.
- Threaded, Roskilde, Denmark
I just don't get it. Why do people who supposedly believe in justice in the next life (and live their lives based on the teachings of these beliefs) feel the need to threaten or take someone's life here and now. Surely if you believe justice will be meted by God or Allah or whoever then you should just let people do what they want and let them be judged later... call me naive if you will but it all seems completely senseless to me.
- Emma, London
Such a peaceful religion.
May the true God watch over her and change the hearts of her misguided family.
- Christine, Indiana, USA
Islam, such a tolerant religion.
- Brian, Wiltshire
...but, of course, Islam is the religion of peace and tolerance.
- Dave, London
How sad that people will take things to the extreme in what is a rather peaceful religion.
- S-M Hearmon, London, UK
