Blasphemy and Apostasy 'Laws' in the Muslim World: A Critical Analysis
Research Handbook on Islamic Law and Society (Nadirsyah Hosen, ed., Forthcoming)
41 Pages Posted: 17 Sep 2018
Date Written: September 14, 2018
Abstract
This chapter reviews the laws of apostasy and blasphemy in the Muslim world, by looking particularly at Pakistani and Malaysian cases. It strongly argues that the death penalty in the laws of apostasy and blasphemy is untenable in the modern period. The chapter demonstrates that these laws conflict with a variety of foundational teachings of Islam and with the current ethos of human rights, in particular the freedom to choose one's religion and the freedom to express oneself.
Keywords: Blasphemy, Apostasy, Islam, Islamic Law, Muslims, Islamophobia, Free Speech, Islam, Ijtihad, Taqlid, Shariah
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