Here’s an article by Daniel Pipes:  "Barack Obama through Muslim Eyes". Daniel Pipes documents here how the Muslim press has responded to the religious background and Christian affiliation of Presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Many consider him to be a Muslim since his father was Muslim and also because he was designated as a Muslim in his first school that he attended.

Others consider him to be an ‘apostate’ since he now claims to be a Christian. Al Queda takes the tact that he’s an ‘apostate’ Muslim and has been publicizing and criticizing his statements that: "I am not a Muslim".

At the end of his article, Daniel Pipes concludes:

"In sum, Muslims puzzle over Obama’s present religious status. They resist his self-identification as a Christian while they assume a baby born to a Muslim father and named "Hussein" began life a Muslim. Should Obama become president, differences in Muslim and American views of religious affiliation will create problems."

Response: Americans and Westerners assume that everyone has the right to choose their own religion. Since Obama became a Christian at age 27 and states that he is a Christian, the case should be closed–at least from our perspective.

However, in most Muslim countries those who have a Muslim father are considered to be Muslim and it is illegal for a Muslim to convert to another religion. Also in many places, those who do convert from Islam to another religion are considered to be ‘apostates’ and under the sentence of death.

If Barack Obama does become President, it will be interesting to see how Muslims respond. Will he be treated with respect or vilified as an ‘apostate’?            *Top