Sabatina James at centre of conflict between Islam and human rights
Sabatina James (at right), a 26-year-old Pakistani-born Austrian, has been living in fear for her life since converting from Islam to Christianity a few years ago. Her father stabbed her when she formed a relationship with a Christian and vowed to kill her for apostasy.
Austrian authorities initially encouraged her to revert to Islam to resolve the conflict. Instead, she fled to Germany.
James, who uses a pseudonym, grew up in Linz, a city near the Alps more famous for chocolate than disputes between Islamic and international law. But when she renounced Islam, her father’s verdict was clear. “He said, ‘In two weeks you have to become a Muslim again or you’re dead,’” says James, who fled to Germany, where she now lives under police protection.
On the anniversary of the UDHR’s ratification, James’s case dramatically illustrates Islam’s growing challenge to the principles enshrined in the world’s most translated document, including the freedom of thought, conscience, and worship — and the right to change one’s religion.
In another news story, she spoke about her conversion.
[A]fter conversing with a classmate about God she began to read the Bible for the first time.
James said: “I was amazed at the differences between the Bible and the Koran. The Bible spoke of love and forgiveness, but only Mohammed’s severity was conveyed in the Koran.
“The turning point for me was the Bible’s attitude towards women. There were no commandments that said women were put on this earth to serve men.”
Her story has been published in a German book (at right) entitled Sabatina: vom Islam zum Christentum, ein Todesurteil (Sabatina: from Islam to Christianity, a death sentence). The book has yet not been translated into English.
UPI religion correspondent Uwe Siemon-Netto outlines Sabatina’s life story in a 2003 column. She maintains a German-language website here.
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