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...

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書目詳細資料
主要作者: Manea, Elham 1966- (Author)
格式: 電子 Article
語言:English
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出版: Taylor & Francis [2016]
In: Islam and Christian-Muslim relations
Year: 2016, 卷: 27, 發布: 1, Pages: 117-127
IxTheo Classification:AD Sociology of religion; religious policy
BJ Islam
KBM Asia
TK Recent history
XA Law
Further subjects: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
在線閱讀: Volltext (Verlag)
實物特徵
總結: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
Contains:Enthalten in: Islam and Christian-Muslim relations
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1080/09596410.2015.1114241