Kuwaiti singer wants to convert to Judaism

Apostasy from Islam seems all the rage, as a popular singer in Kuwait declares her intention to convert to Judaism She is following another performer who declared his wish to convert to Christianity. Kuwait's ruling family is sympathetic to the Muslim Brotherhood which considers apostasy punishable by death. Jewish Voice reports: 

Ibtisam Hamid

Shockwaves were profoundly felt throughout the Arab world on Wednesday when acclaimed Kuwaiti singer and actress Ibtisam Hamid made a public pronouncement of her intention to renounce her Islamic faith and to embrace Judaism through conversion.

 Also known by her stage name Basma al-Kuwaiti, the singer and actress posted a video on Twitter in which she said her decision stemmed from the fact that Islam violates women’s rights and does not treat them with dignity, as was reported by Israel HaYom.

 She stated:“I, Ibtisam Hamid, nicknamed singer Basma al-Kuwaitiya, announce that I am leaving Islam and proudly announce embracing Judaism.” The video was so widely circulated to the point that she topped Arab Google trending searches lists as well as social media. According to the albawaba.com web site, fans and followers of al-Kuwaitiya demanded that the singer be arrested and held accountable for her decision to convert to Judaism. 

 The web site reported that one follower said: ‘So this is a trendy approach for fame nowadays, every now and then someone announces apostasy.’ Another one wrote: ‘We are at the end of time, and this is called apostasy, and she must be stopped’. 

Israel HaYom reported that the singer also spoke out against the ruling family of Kuwait, saying “I want to declare my opposition to the Al Sabah family, who reject normalization with Israel, stands against religious freedom in the country and against freedom of speech.”

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