Blasphemy laws or laws prohibiting defamation of a religion are incompatible with Islamic thought and philosophy. The concept of Defamation of Religions denies a person their free will to choose -- one of God's greatest gifts to humanity -- and deprives individuals of their right to free speech and expression. It also creates a climate of intolerance that can breed discrimination and violence.
This was the message I delivered last week during a Human Rights First panel discussion in Geneva, where the United Nations Human Rights Council is expected to discuss a resolution seeking this week to criminalize "defamation of religions," as it has done several years for the past decade. However, this year's debate comes at a unique and particularly tumultuous time.
Earlier this month, Pakistan's Minister for Minority Affairs, Shabbaz Bhatti, was murdered for speaking out in favor of amending the nation's blasphemy laws. His assassination came less than two months after the murder of Governor Salmaan Taseer, who was assassinated by one of his own body guards. Taseer's killer tried to justify his act by citing Islamic law. Taseer was an outspoken defender of a Christian woman who sentenced to death in Pakistan after being accused of blasphemy. The assassin, now in custody and facing murder charges, has been called a "hero" by a vocal and influential minority of Pakistanis who echo his misguided reasoning and support brutal blasphemy laws.
Blasphemy laws were first introduced to Muslim countries during the days of colonialism and are now a major obstacle to Islamic reform. Often used to restrict freedom of expression and to settle personal scores, these laws have led to devastating consequences for religious minorities and others whose views differ from the majority. It has become all too common and acceptable to file an accusation of blasphemy, claims that can include insulting the Quran or Prophet Muhammad, and to condemn those who speak out against such abuses.
Those who support the "Defamation of Religions" resolution first introduced at the United Nations over a decade ago by the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), argue that it serves to combat the rise of hatred and discrimination against Muslims in the world. They are wrong. In fact, this resolution does the opposite. Its implementation would illustrate Muslim suppression of Western standards of freedom of speech
The Quran mandates "there shall be no coercion in matters of faith" (2:256). This Quranic injunction is meant to protect freedom of religious belief and expression for all people; it is also meant to prohibit any government or group of people from intruding on the private lives of its people. Islam calls for the freedom, not for the suppression, of free speech and it condemns violations of fundamental human rights.
In fact, the Quran documents the criticism of Islam by poets and political leaders at the time of its revelation. Though the Prophet was accused of sorcery and mania, in each and every case, God did not order him to punish the blasphemers. Instead, His order to the Prophet was to respond to their hate speech with good speech and good work. In other words, Islam calls for freedom of speech and for competing freely in the marketplace of ideas. No one has the right to play the role of God on this earth.
In the Quran, there is no provision for the absolute protection of (any) religion nor any punishment mandated for those who defame religion. Just like current standards of international law, the Quran calls for the protection of individuals and their rights. It is this protection that should be at the heart of any resolution proposed to combat religious intolerance and discrimination.
People of all faiths need states and international bodies to protect them when they are discriminated against based on their religion. Unfortunately, they are not getting any such protection. For example, Europe has not faired well on guaranteeing freedom of religion for its Muslim citizens. A recent referendum voted on by Swiss citizens banned the construction of minarets on mosques, and government intrusion on religious practices in France has become pervasive.
By contrast, in the United States where secularism means neutrality of government on religious matters, Muslims are protected by the government, especially when discrimination occurs against women who decide to wear a headscarf. When Rep. Peter King held a hearing on "radicalization of American Muslims" attempting to stereotype all American Muslims, many elected government officials, opinion leaders and civil society organizations collectively called out his behavior and rhetoric as counter to American values and protections for all its citizens.
The proposed U.N. resolution on "Defamation of Religions" will certainly not prevent discrimination against Muslims, nor will it fight religious intolerance. Its passage would only further fuel anti-Muslim stereotyping and hatred.
We must earn our respect as Muslims by working for the prosperity of our societies. We must seek essential reforms that, along with our own honorable actions, will protect and exalt the name of Islam. The Quran provides a response to defamation in general: "Good and evil are not equal; so repel evil with something good and better so that the one with whom there is enmity will become a close friend."
Follow Salam Al Marayati on Twitter: www.twitter.com/salampacker
Iraq and Afghanistan are gone, now its Pakistan's turn.
Read about the Ulama Karam and the last Ummah's Corruption:-- -http://truthbehindit.blogspot.com
TruthBehindIt
http://truthbehindit.blogspot.com/
1)--Is Denier of the names of Sahaba,-----Out of Islam???
2)--Lost Explanations of Al-Quran!
3)--Sunni's Contradiction!---Demanding "words of Rasool" who they claim could not write!!!
4)--A Popular Hadith of Shafa'ut!
Blasphemy Law is not in Allah’s Quran. It is a man-made law.
Should we follow Allah’s Quran–Or–Should we follow man-made law???
O people of the ummah! Why don’t you read your Allah’s Quran and follow It?
Allah declares in His Quran:
—”Indeed, (O Messenger) We will look into the affair of those who speak scornfully against you.” (Al-Hijr-95)
Allah Himself will look into the blasphemy matter. Allah didn’t allow anyone to take the matter in his hands.
http://www.youtube.com/user/TruthBehindIt
"Blasphemy laws were first introduced to Muslim countries during the days of colonialism and are now a major obstacle to Islamic reform."
This is an outright lie by Marayati -- the Quran specifically states in 9:64-666"The Hypocrites are afraid lest a Surah [chapter in the Quran] should be sent down about them, showing them what is (really passing) in their hearts. Say: "Mock ye! But verily Allah will bring to light all that ye fear... was it at Allah and His, signs and His Messenger that ye were mocking? Make ye no excuses: ye have rejected Faith after ye had accepted it. If We pardon some of you We will punish others amongst you, for that they are in sin...Verily the Hypocrites are rebellious and perverse."
And the hadiths further elaborate the prohibition on insult, mocking, and denying God: Abu Dawud narrates (#4362) from Ali that a Jewish woman used to insult the Prophet and say bad things about him, so a man strangled her until she died, and the Prophet ruled that no blood money was due in this case.
All major Islamic theologians at all times and in all Islamic societies have condemned blasphemy (and its corollary, apostasy, which Marayati is interestingly silent about) as warranting death, imprisonment, or exile.
Which is precisely why, for example, Muslims riot, burn, and kill when a few innocuous cartoons are drawn by obscure Danish cartoonists that mock Muhammad.
On the hadith, the more common story is of a Jewish woman who insulted the prophet regularly until he did not hear her insults any longer. He asked about her and found out she died. He attended her funeral out of respect. Another well-known story is the one of Taif, where the Prophet tolerated abuse. People hurled insults and human waste at him. The Prophet prayed for their forgiveness and the end of ignorance.
That's the Islam that made a great civilization. But in the end, you believe what you want and I believe what I want. Stop telling Muslims what they should and should not believe.
"In a book launched in January, Lee is quoted as saying that multiracial Singapore was making good progress "until the surge of Islam came". He described Muslims as "distinct and separate," and called on them to "be less strict on Islamic observances" for better social integration."
" This means that the Bahasa Malaysia Bible is now treated as a restricted item, and the Word of God has been made subject to the control of man. This is wholly offensive to Christians,” the CFM said in a strongly worded statement today signed by its chairman, Bishop Ng Moon Hing.
The umbrella body refuted government claims it had reached a compromise, saying it had never agreed that its holy books should be endorsed to say, “It is only for Christians”.
“Any person who respects the Holy Scriptures of any religion would be appalled by this action. We will never accede to any desecration of the Bible since the Word of God to us is sacred,” it said.
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Churches-in-Malaysia-reject-Bibles-held-up-and-desecrated-by-the-government-21061.html
We deny reeligious freedom for the others buit we demand the same from the others. That is secularism; abandoniong the non muslim majorities.
Having studied the Quran and Islamic history, the current state of Muslim ideology is quite depressing. Islam is shaped by schools of theology that basically determine what direction the religion will take in the mainstream.
For example, we have a history of interpretation without much input from women, and this has resulted in extremely sexist societies. A feminist movement has begun to reexamine many of the rulings made by men in the past few centuries, and I believe that they have revealed many holes in the arguments that some use to justify backwards views. The same thing seems to be happening in relation to apostasy laws and many other outdated stances.. I just hope this movement gains traction.
I wish you the best of luck convincing Muslims around the world that their religion does not support punishing blasphemy and apostasy, or restricting freedom of religious choice. This is something Islam must do to shed the stereotype that it is a religion of oppression and be respected in the free world.
To my knowledge others allow religious freedom to muslims and muslims do not give religious freedom to others. Religious tolerance is absent in Islam. Dr.Zakir nail argued the Islam is the true religion and others are false and that is the reaon why mosques should be allowed in Christian and others countries and churches and temnples should not be allowed in muslim countries.
"The whole minaret thing in Switzerland was a political stunt perpetrated by anti-Muslims for no good reason.
No; it is an emphatic rejection of Islam and the followers. The Swiss allowed some muslims on compassionate grounds during the Bosnian crisis. Some Imams started talking about shariaa; Swiss became anxious. Lady teachers started complaining about the bad and violent behaviour of the muslium boys in the public schools, because they consider women were inferior to men; the Swiss became panicky. Two Swiss girls were gangraped by mulim minors and the parents expressed helplesness to control them; the Swiss decided enough is enough. Minaret ban was spearheaded by a famous feminist and with full support from women. There are Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh places of worship. They were convinced shariaa will come first and will be followed by stoning. In US also many states are passing laws banning shariaa.
I'm glad the word is starting to spread that most Muslims do not agree with these backwards laws that are prevalent in many tribal areas and villages. This very same message is the one I've heard my whole life - by family, my mosque, and even in Pakistan.
Many modern scholars have determined that the death penalty was meant to apply not to simple acts of apostasy from Islam, but when apostasy was linked to political betrayal of the community. (i.e. it was never to apply to a change of faith but rather to punish acts such as treason, joining forces with the enemy and sedition.)
This is a great blog that has compiled dozens of Muslim views of the issue; and it's evidence that scholars are moving in an extremely progressive direction: http://apostasyandislam.blogspot.com/
The link I posted completely and utterly destroys the nonsense your comment. Nothing even CLOSE to being universal.
But hey, I bet you're far more knowledgeable than the dozens of Muslim scholars who have devoted their lives to studying Islam. Who are they to say that you're wrong?
Mohammed Abbasi
Co-Director
Association of British Muslims (est 1889/ aobm.org)
The important issue to note, is that we all have our right to our own belief (including Muslims), what is important that we do not IMPOSE our belief's on each other. Someone once related (can't remember who exactly): He drew a circle and put a dot at the centre and said "God is the centre, we are the circle, there is an infinite number of ways to reach that centre" And that is applicable to mankind...
Yah the people can believe and say what they want, because they are going to die anyways...being infidels and all.
The evolution of religion is laughable.