A group of prominent former Muslims announced the launch of their new organization Thursday.

Former Muslims United seeks to educate the American public and lawmakers about the threat posed by Islamic Sharia law.
     
The group has sent what it calls a "freedom pledge" to over 50 Muslim leaders in the U.S. It calls on them to repudiate Islamic doctrine that Muslims who leave the faith - known as apostates - should be executed.
 
"The population in the Muslim world, the majority is for killing apostates," said group member Nonie Darwish. "…I have no doubt that in the United States we have a good portion of Muslims who believe that apostates should be killed and that's why we're scared."

Former Muslims United also hand delivered letters to Attorney General Eric Holder and the chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
     
The letters call on both men to investigate possible hate crimes and civil rights violations against former Muslims like Rifqa Bary.
     
Bary's case has drawn national attention over charges that her Muslim parents threatened to kill her for leaving Islam.