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Conversion Norway-style

How Norway鈥檚 Christian and Muslim leaders forged a historic pact on the right to convert.

In 2007 Christian and Muslim leaders in Norway controversially recognised for the first time in modern history, the right to convert between the two faiths without harassment or impediment. They also called for all missionary work to be conducted 鈥渨ithout force or manipulation".

The 鈥淛oint declaration on the freedom of religion and the right to conversion鈥 was welcomed as an important contribution to inter-faith dialogue in the Scandinavian nation. But it was also seen by some Muslims as recognizing the right to abandon Islam, which is considered apostasy and punishable as a criminal offense in many Muslim countries. It was similarly criticised by some of Norway鈥檚 evangelical churches, which saw it as disavowing their central missionary role.

Reporter Maddy Savage travels to Norway to hear the stories of some of those who鈥檝e chosen to convert from one of the two faiths to the other; and to ask whether the joint declaration played any role in their life changing decisions.

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27 minutes

Last on

Sun 17 Jul 2022 23:32GMT

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