I disagree but please provide evidence so we may discuss this further inshallah.
I dont know why you think its defensible but this is a fair place to start
Saudi Atheism Punishable by Death
In Saudi Arabia, atheism is considered a serious offense and is punishable by death under the country's strict interpretation of Islamic law. The government has equated atheism with terrorism, and individuals who are found to be atheists can face severe penalties, including the death sentence.234+1
For example, Ahmad Al-Shamri was sentenced to death for atheism after he denounced the Prophet Muhammad in videos he uploaded to social media.6 Additionally, in 2014, King Abdullah passed royal decrees that further reinforced the association between atheism and terrorism.2
These laws reflect the highly restrictive regime in Saudi Arabia, where public expression on religion or belief must align with the government's particular brand of Sunni Islam
Apostasy in Islam Punished
In Islam, apostasy, known as ridda or irtidād, is commonly defined as the abandonment of Islam by a Muslim, in thought, word, or through deed. This includes not only explicit renunciations of the Islamic faith by converting to another religion or abandoning religion, but also blasphemy or heresy by those who consider themselves Muslims, through any action or utterance which implies unbelief, including those who deny a "fundamental tenet or creed" of Islam.6
Islamic jurisprudence traditionally calls for the death penalty for those who refuse to repent of apostasy from Islam. However, what statements or acts qualify as apostasy and whether and how they should be punished are disputed among Islamic scholars, with some liberal interpretations rejecting physical punishment for apostasy.6
According to classical and some modern interpretations of Sharia, the death penalty is considered the most appropriate punishment for apostates.56 However, the implementation of such penalties is not uniform across all Muslim-majority countries. As of 2021, there were ten Muslim-majority countries where apostasy from Islam was punishable by death, but legal executions are rare. Most punishments are extra-judicial or vigilante actions, and most executions are perpetrated by jihadist and "takfiri" insurgents such as al-Qaeda, the Islamic State, the GIA, and the Taliban.6
In Afghanistan, for example, Article 130 of the Afghan Constitution and Article 1 of the Afghan Penal Code require courts to apply provisions of Hanafi Sunni fiqh for crimes of apostasy, prescribing the death penalty for the crime of apostasy.4 However, the accused can avoid prosecution and/or punishment if they confess to having made a mistake of apostasy and rejoin Islam.4
Despite the potential for severe consequences, several Muslims do leave the Islamic religion, either by becoming irreligious (atheism, agnosticism, etc.) or converting to other religions, mostly to Christianity.
