May Allah protect him and keep him safe, and reward him for all the work he does.
I didn’t say “no” and I didn’t say “yes,” but I said “Not necessarily.” The answer from the sheikh (hafidhahullah) is a good answer–one I’ve referred to myself a couple times.
What’s also important to understand is the role of apostasy in early Islam–that it isn’t just changing one’s faith or creed, but in actuality committing treason and going to war with the Muslims. In such a case, absolutely, the penalty is death.
But there are other scholars you can check with who also point out that sometimes leaving the religion of Islam is not that kind of apostasy, and especially without an Islamic state to commit treason against, the penalty of death doesn’t quite make sense.
I don’t disagree with what the sheikh wrote. But sometimes that ruling does not apply. (Note, for instance, that he is in Saudi Arabia, and not the USA, where circumstances are drastically different.)