Fatihah I did read your whole post. If you look at my post, you will see I didn't suggest that you support death for people who merely change their belief.
And no one (on this thread anyway) is saying you can't use violence to defend yourself from violence. That's a moot point. We can set that aside.
The issue I am dealing with is about apostates who are outspoken about their beliefs (maybe they might persuade some people to leave Islam).
This has nothing to do with someone trying to kill you. Obviously, if someone is threatening to kill anyone, they should be arrested. That is not the scenario I am discussing.
Now, you have said several times the punishment for apostacy is death, "unless the apostate wishes for peace".
It sounds like you are saying that it is assumed apostates are psychopathic murderers, unless they make some effort, or provide some proof, that they are not.
If they are outspoken about their beliefs, and perhaps persuade people through nonviolent words to leave Islam, is the punishment death, in your view? Even when there is no evidence they are threatening anyone with violence?
Your view is obviously more humane than killing people outright, but even your view that apostates must "wish for peace", in some way that ordinary citizens are not required to do, is still prejudiced and paranoid, i.m.o.
Imagine if the law in the US was that any Christian who becomes an apostates (say he converts to Islam) will be put to death....unless he wishes for peace. Clearly this would be a tool for oppression and intimidation, because you assume people are violent, then threaten them with death, then make them promise they aren't a threat. But you don't do that to ALL people....you don't do it to Muslim apostates.....only Christian apostates. Isn't it obvious that this would serve as an excuse to intimidate, and treat unequally, and humiliate peaceful Muslim political opponents to the state, peaceful Muslim critics and authors and intellectuals, peaceful Muslims in the minority religion?
This is inequality, prejudice, bigotry, paranoia....this is the basis of fascism. The "self-defense" thing can only serve as an excuse for repressing, intimidating, and humiliating peaceful opponents to the State ideology (in this case an Islamic State ideology, but it could just as well be fascism, communism, etc.) As soon as someone expresses an opinion you don't like (apostacy) you assume they are violent maniacs unless they "wish for peace". Of course, this means the authorities pay special attention to investigating apostates. Obviously, if you investigate a certain group of people more, you will convict them of more crimes. Meanwhile, ordinary citizens who may have committed just as many minor offenses, are not investigated as thoroughly and may not get convicted of these minor crimes. These are standard, subtle tactics of discrimination and intimidation, fueled by the excuse of "they're trying to kill us!!"
