Silenced: how apostasy and blasphemy codes are choking freedom worldwide

This volume provides the first world survey of the range and effects of suchaccusations in the contemporary Muslim world, in international organizations,and in the West. The fatwa against Salman Rushdie and the 2005 Danish cartoonfracas awakened many people to the potency of blasphemy accusations in the Muslim world. Accusations and charges such as "blasphemy," "apostasy," "insulting Islam," or "hurting Muslims' religious feelings" pose a far greater danger than censorship of irreverent caricatures of Mohammad: they are increasingly used as key tools by authoritarian governments and extremist forces in the Muslim world to acquire and consolidatepower. These charges, which draw on disputed interpretations of Islamic law and carry a traditional punishment of death, have proved effective in crushing or intimidating not only converts and heterodox groups, but also political andreligious reformers. In fact, one reason for the recent growth ofmore repressive forms of Islam is their use of accusations of blasphemy, apostasy, and related charges to intimidate and silence their religious opponents and make any criticism of their own actions and ideas religiously suspect. Theeffect of such laws thus goes far beyond what might narrowly be called religious matters.This volume provides the first world survey of the range and effects of apostasy and blasphemy accusations in the contemporary Muslim world, in international organizations, and in the West. The authors argue that we need to understand the context, history, impact, and mechanics of the blasphemy phenomenon in modern Muslim societies and guidance on how to effectively respond. The book covers the persecution of Muslims who convert to another religion or decide thatthey have become agnostic oratheists, as well as 'heretics:' those who are accused of claiming a prophet after Mohammed, such as Baha'is and Ahmadis. It also documents the political effects in Muslim societies of blasphemy and apostasy laws, as well as non-governmental fatwas and vigilante violence. It describes the cases ofhundreds of victims, including political dissidents, religious reformers, journalists, writers, artists, movie makers, and religious minorities throughout the Muslim world. Finally, it addresses the legal evolution toward new blasphemy laws in the West; the increasing use of laws on "toleration" in the West, which may become surrogate blasphemy laws; increasing pressure by Muslim governments to make Western countries and international organizations enforce laws to restrict speech; and theincreasing use of violence to stifle expression in the West even in the absence of law. Its foreword is by Indonesia's late President Abdurrahman Wahid. Silenced is an uncomfortable but essential contribution to a most important debate that many would prefer to sit out. Its sober, balanced, and detailed account of the threat from Islamic blasphemy laws - whether in Pakistan, at the U.N., or in Europe - lucidly demonstrates that we do so at our own peril. INDICE: PART I Chapter 1: Introduction PART II: MUSLIM MAJORITY COUNTRIES Introduction to Muslim Majority Countries Chapter 2: Saudi Arabia Chapter 3: Iran Chapter 4: Egypt Chapter 5: Pakistan Chapter 6: Afghanistan Chapter 7: TheGreater Middle East Chapter 8: Africa Chapter 9: South and South East Asia PART III: THE GLOBALIZATION OF BLASPHEMY Introduction to Western Countries and International Blasphemy Chapter 10: Islam and Blasphemy on the International Stage 1989-2009 Chapter 11: Legitimizing Repression: Blasphemy Restrictions in the United Nations Chapter 12: Religiously Incorrect: Islam, Blasphemy, and Hate Speech In Western Domestic Law Chapter 13: Enforcement by Violence and Intimidation PART IV: MUSLIM CRITICISM OF APOSTASY AND BLASPHEMY LAWS Introduction to Muslim Voices Chapter 14: Renewing Qur'anic Studies in the Contemporary World, by Nasr Hamid Abu-Zayd Chapter 15: Rethinking Classical Muslim Law of Apostasy and the Death Penalty, by Abdullah Saeed PART V: CONCLUSIONS Chapter 16:

• ISBN: 978-0-19-981226-4
• Editorial: Oxford University
• Encuadernacion: Cartoné
• Páginas: 544
• Fecha Publicación: 17/11/2011
• Nº Volúmenes: 1
• Idioma: Inglés