Apostasy in Islam

Apostasy in Islam means that a Muslim has chosen to stop believing in the Islamic religion. It's not allowed in Islam and is seen as a very serious offense. People who commit apostasy are at risk of being punished by the Islamic government, which could be anything from a fine to jail time. Some countries even have laws that make it illegal to leave the religion. In most cases, however, the punishment is simply being shunned or disowned by family and friends.