Abstract: This study analyses Islamic penal laws and the right to religious freedom focusing on 24 Middle East Muslim countries. It reviews the codified penal codes of the Middle East Muslim countries that criminalize apostasy and blasphemy.
We found that apostasy is punishable by penal law and/or family law in 20 Middle East Muslim countries, representing the absolute majority out of the 24 Muslim countries. Twenty-three Muslim countries in that area, except Djibouti only, punish blasphemy as a crime.
The actual punishment for apostasy and blasphemy in those countries varies from country to country. Some Middle Eastern Muslim countries classify apostasy as a Hudud crime and is punishable by death penalty. Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Sudan belong to this category. In Tunisia, however, the Constitution prohibits punishment for apostasy as well as punishment for apostasy outside the judicial system.
The restrictions on religious freedom in the Muslim countries of the Middle East are more severe and oppressive than in other parts of Europe and Asia. Egypt, Iran and Saudi Arabia have high levels of restrictions on religious freedom. Restrictions on religious freedom from 2007 to 2016 have worsened until the Arab uprising in 2011. Still in some countries, including Saudi Arabia, there are signs of improvement on religious freedom.
Publication Year: 2017
Publication Date: 2017-10-01
Language: en
Type: article
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