The strongest opinion is that there should be no punishment for apostasy.
The death penalty should not be applied towards one's individual choice of religion because (1) it contradicts with the Quran, and any hadith or law which contradicts the Quran should be discarded, because the Quran is the ultimate source of Sharia, (2) there is no report that the Prophet ever ordered a death penalty on someone just for leaving Islam, and (3) the majority of scholars agree that the death penalty for apostasy should be applied only if there are treasonous acts involved, especially when the apostates turn against Muslims and then try to cause serious harm or damage to them.
"Islamic scholars say the original rulings on apostasy were similar to those for treasonous acts in legal systems worldwide and do not apply to an individual's choice of religion. Islam advocates both freedom of religion and freedom of conscience, a position supported by verses in the Quran, Islam's revealed text, such as: 'Let there be no compulsion in religion' (Surah 2:256)." - Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
100+ Notable Islamic Voices on Apostasy; Preserving the Freedom for Faith; Affirmation of Freedom of Expression and Belief in the Quran
So, to my knowledge, Islam does not sanction the killing of apostates as many people think it does.
The death penalty should not be applied towards one's individual choice of religion because (1) it contradicts with the Quran, and any hadith or law which contradicts the Quran should be discarded, because the Quran is the ultimate source of Sharia, (2) there is no report that the Prophet ever ordered a death penalty on someone just for leaving Islam, and (3) the majority of scholars agree that the death penalty for apostasy should be applied only if there are treasonous acts involved, especially when the apostates turn against Muslims and then try to cause serious harm or damage to them.
"Islamic scholars say the original rulings on apostasy were similar to those for treasonous acts in legal systems worldwide and do not apply to an individual's choice of religion. Islam advocates both freedom of religion and freedom of conscience, a position supported by verses in the Quran, Islam's revealed text, such as: 'Let there be no compulsion in religion' (Surah 2:256)." - Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
100+ Notable Islamic Voices on Apostasy; Preserving the Freedom for Faith; Affirmation of Freedom of Expression and Belief in the Quran
So, to my knowledge, Islam does not sanction the killing of apostates as many people think it does.
