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...
| Auteur principal: | |
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| Type de support: | Électronique Article |
| Langue: | Anglais |
| Vérifier la disponibilité: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | En cours de chargement...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Publié: |
Taylor & Francis
[2016]
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| Dans: |
Islam and Christian-Muslim relations
Année: 2016, Volume: 27, Numéro: 1, Pages: 117-127 |
| Classifications IxTheo: | AD Sociologie des religions BJ Islam KBM Asie TK Époque contemporaine XA Droit |
| Sujets non-standardisés: | B
Charlie Hebdo
B Saudi Arabia B Pakistan B Iran B Islam B political function of cultural relativism B Blasphemy B political function of blasphemy B Religion B Cultural Relativism B Culture B Islamic states |
| Accès en ligne: |
Volltext (Verlag) |
| Résumé: | 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. |
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| ISSN: | 1469-9311 |
| Contient: | Enthalten in: Islam and Christian-Muslim relations
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1080/09596410.2015.1114241 |