Pakistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia all punish blasphemy harshly – even with death. Such laws have political as well as religious motives, says a scholar on Islamism: They’re a tool for crushing dissent.
Articles on Muslim-majority nations
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There is no inherent tension between Islam and democratic values. Like any use of religion in politics, the application of Sharia as law depends on who is using it – and why.
An expert on Islam and democracy examines the threat to the world’s largest Muslim majority country.
There are many myths around Sharia. A scholar explains the moral and ethical principles behind it, as also why there are different interpretations.
Top contributors
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Assistant Professor of International Relations, Boston University
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Class of 1950 Herman B Wells Endowed Professor and Professor of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures, Indiana University
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Professor of Political Science, Director of Center for Islamic & Arabic Studies, San Diego State University
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Professor of Politics and Legal Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz