Freedom of religion, apostasy and human rights : an appraisal

The issue of apostasy is closely linked to the dispute over the shari'a as Islamists contend that under its rule an apostate should be killed. Consequently, they contend that as punishment of apostates is a religious duty, then article 18 of the UDHR which gives Muslims the right to change their religion, ie become apostates, is indeed not compatible with Islam. I would argue here that the religious foundations of this position are not as straightforward as it seems; that there is no clear cut rationale behind apostasy punishment, and that it may after all be in the interest of Muslims to endorse the principle of religious freedom as formulated in Article 18 of the UDHR.peer-reviewe

Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na’Im, Islam and Secular State: Negotiating the Future of Shari’a

The relationship between Islam, state, and politics has been the subject of decades-long and extensive debates in the fields of politics (and policy), academia and media. One perception brought about mostly by orientalist studies purports that Islam – unlike Christianity does not “render what is to Caesar unto Caesar”; rather Islam does not recognize a separation between church and state or a distinction between religion and politics. Though such a view is fairly outdated, it is by no means abandoned, and it appears to hold some influence among many of those concerned with the affairs of Muslim-majority societies. There is a perception among some observers of these societies that a uniform “Muslim culture” tends to inform the political behaviour of Muslims, and that the religious foundation of this culture was grounded on unity between religion and the state given the historical fact that Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam was both a Prophet and a statesman

Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na’Im, Islam and Secular State: Negotiating the Future of Shari’a

The relationship between Islam, state, and politics has been the subject of decades-long and extensive debates in the fields of politics (and policy), academia and media. One perception brought about mostly by orientalist studies purports that Islam – unlike Christianity does not “render what is to Caesar unto Caesar”; rather Islam does not recognize a separation between church and state or a distinction between religion and politics. Though such a view is fairly outdated, it is by no means abandoned, and it appears to hold some influence among many of those concerned with the affairs of Muslim-majority societies. There is a perception among some observers of these societies that a uniform “Muslim culture” tends to inform the political behaviour of Muslims, and that the religious foundation of this culture was grounded on unity between religion and the state given the historical fact that Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam was both a Prophet and a statesman