I think this was some kind of misinterpretation or misunderstanding by the so called clerics or highly placed Muslims. I feel the people during the time this religion was created were promiscuous, practicing things that were not oriented towards respecting the almighty, and were mostly self-directed. In order for people to come to a right path, the people who brought this religion into being thought there should be something should lure people to come into its fold and also wanted some die-hard followers who could propagate this religion. I think it did not mean killing people or forcefully converting them in the present context, it was only applicable in that continent or people where it originated, as there might have been people praying the witches, ghosts, or other things that did not signify God.
As people in other continents also prayed to God, so there is no point that these Jihadi laws are apply there.
