In the Name of Culture and Religion: The Political Function of Blasphemy in Islamic States

This article argues that blasphemy laws and a cultural relativist approach to human rights have a political function in authoritarian states. Islamic states use a strong cultural relativist approach to justify their dismal human rights record. The main aim of this approach, however, is survival. The...

Descripción completa

Guardado en:  
Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor principal: Manea, Elham 1966- (Autor)
Tipo de documento: Electrónico Artículo
Lenguaje:Inglés
Verificar disponibilidad: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Gargar...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Publicado: Taylor & Francis [2016]
En: Islam and Christian-Muslim relations
Año: 2016, Volumen: 27, Número: 1, Páginas: 117-127
Clasificaciones IxTheo:AD Sociología de la religión
BJ Islam
KBM Asia
TK Período contemporáneo
XA Derecho
Otras palabras clave:B Charlie Hebdo
B Saudi Arabia
B Pakistan
B Iran
B Islam
B political function of cultural relativism
B Religión
B Blasphemy
B political function of blasphemy
B Cultural Relativism
B Culture
B Islamic states
Acceso en línea: Volltext (Verlag)
Descripción
Sumario:This article argues that blasphemy laws and a cultural relativist approach to human rights have a political function in authoritarian states. Islamic states use a strong cultural relativist approach to justify their dismal human rights record. The main aim of this approach, however, is survival. The article shows how Islamic countries use religion for their own political survival purposes and how blasphemy laws are often used to silence critique of political, social and religious orders that infringe on basic human rights. From this perspective, blasphemy laws are tools of oppression, not a symbol of cultural and religious difference. By highlighting how blasphemy laws and a cultural relativist approach to religion have been used as tools of oppression by authoritarian regimes, the article underscores the importance of freedom of expression for any functioning democracy.
ISSN:1469-9311
Obras secundarias:Enthalten in: Islam and Christian-Muslim relations
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1080/09596410.2015.1114241