THE HAGUE, 03/05/07 - A group of lapsed Muslims has set up an association that wants to overthrow sacred cows within Islam. They will primarily focus on renunciation of the faith, Elsevier magazine reports on its website.

For Muslims, it is forbidden to leave Islam. The penalty for this is death, according to Elsevier. "Muslims renouncing their faith is the greatest taboo of all," says Loubna Berrada. He is a board member of the new association.

Berrada himself renounced Islam seven years ago due to a lack of affinity with the faith. "Many Muslims do not practice their religion, but stepping out of it is sensitive. We want that people who renounce Islam do not immediately face death threats."

Berrada is a member of the conservative (VVD) party. He set up an advisory committee for Integration Policy within the VVD earlier. He forms the management of the new foundation with Ehsan Jami, a municipal council member for Labour (PvdA) in Leidschendam. Jami lapsed from his faith after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, according to Elsevier.

The association is still in the startup phase and does not yet have members. According to Berrada, talks are underway with other potential board members. There is also already an advisory board on which philosophers of law Paul Cliteur and Afshin Ellian are sitting.

Cliteur was until a few years ago a prominent columnist, but withdrew from the spotlight for fear of the wrath of Muslims concerning his Islam criticism. Ellian, born in Iran, is also a well-known critic of Islam. He writes for Elsevier among others.

Not only ex-Muslims can be members, but also others that want to support the aim of the association. "The basic principle is not to attack Islam itself, but the abuses around it," says Berrada. This will according to Berrada have to happen step-by-step and very cautiously.