To the Honourable President and members of the Senate in Parliament assembled:

This petition of certain citizens of Australia draws the attention of the Senate to the serious danger faced by Muslims who choose to leave their faith.

This petition of The Christian Democratic Party also draws to the attention of the Senate that Shari'a (Islamic) Law prescribes the death penalty for adult male Muslims who choose to leave Islam. Most of the Islamic schools of law also have the death sentence for women. Other penalties are also imposed.

We therefore humbly request the Senate to support all efforts by Muslims to have the apostasy law reformed, so that Muslims who choose to leave their faith are no longer liable to any penalty but are free to follow their new convictions without fear, in accordance with the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We also ask the Senate to use its influence on the Governments of countries where punishments for apostasy are part of the legal system to encourage abolition. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

by Senator Nash (from 534 citizens).

Petitions received.