Re: Egyptian grand mufti says Muslims can convert to other religions
Most of the Mullahs confuse apostasy with 'treason against the (Islamic in this case) state'.
A person starts believing in some other faith, fine, let him.
A person declares his allegiance to a force fighting against yours, that's treason, and is punishable by death in lots of non-Muslims states also.
In the Medina days of Islamic state, harsh measurements were taken against people who not only changed their faith, but their allegiances. Given that the state of Medina was constantly in a state of war, it is understandable that they'd want to keep people from conspiring against the state. Sadly, most Mullahs, learned and otherwise, have confused this with apostasy.