Shari'ah (Islamic Law): Difference between revisions

==Definition==

In the modern-world, harsh punishments for blasphemy (including death) are still applied in many Islamic nations including; Afghanistan, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan. Accusations of blasphemy are becoming more and more frequent in the East, and almost always lead to mob-violence (sometimes by thousands of Muslims) against non-Muslim minorities. For example, this was seen in the August 2009 riots against Christians in Gojra, over an alleged desecration of a Qur'an. Many Christian men, women and even children were burnt alive.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=15943&size=A |title=Eight Christians burned alive in Punjab |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=15943&size=A |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}} - Asia News, August 2, 2009</ref> In addition to this, Bibles were burnt and more than a hundred churches and Christian-owned homes were looted and destroyed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=15941&size=A |title=Muslims burn 75 Christian homes and 2 churches in Punjab |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=15941&size=A |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}} - Asia News, August 1, 2009</ref><ref>[http://jubileecampaign.wordpress.com/2009/08/05/50-more-homes-burned-in-gojra/ 50 More Homes Burned in Gojra] - Jubilee Campaign, August 5, 2009 </ref> While there are [[Islam and Freedom of Speech#Practical_Application_in_Islamic_Countries|numerous examples]] of individuals being sentenced by Islamic courts to death or imprisonment for blasphemy, they are rarely publicised by Western media outlets. There are, however, more well known examples like the Jyllands-Posten Danish cartoons and the [[Islam and Freedom of Speech#The_Muhammad_Cartoons_Controversy|resulting uproar]]. These cartoons, once again, sparked violence and murder against the minority Christians in the East.<ref>"[http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=24&art_id=vn20060208033427794C349514 Murder of priest 'religious revenge']". Independent Online. 2006-02-08 </ref> By the end of February 2006 more than 40 people had died<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britannica.com/bps/additionalcontent/18/25734739/JOURNALISM-FOR-INTEGRATION-THE-MUHAMMAD-CARTOONS |title=JOURNALISM FOR INTEGRATION - THE MUHAMMAD CARTOONS |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.britannica.com/bps/additionalcontent/18/25734739/JOURNALISM-FOR-INTEGRATION-THE-MUHAMMAD-CARTOONS |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}} - Encyclopedia Britannica</ref> as a result of the angry reaction from Muslims, and its continued republication has resulted in more than 200 deaths and hundreds of injuries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,547572,00.html |title=Yale Removes Cartoons of Prophet Muhammad From Forthcoming Book, Citing Fears of Violence |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,547572,00.html |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}} - Fox News, September 08, 2009</ref> The November 2007 "[[Islam and Freedom of Speech#The_Muhammad_Teddy_Bear_Blasphemy_Case|Muhammad Teddy bear]]" blasphemy case likewise led to a protest in Khartoum, Sudan. A protest where ten thousand Muslims<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-498689/Teddy-teacher-Lawyer-expects-pardoned-visit-British-Muslim-peers.html |title=Teddy teacher: Lawyer expects her to be pardoned after visit from British Muslim peers |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-498689/Teddy-teacher-Lawyer-expects-pardoned-visit-British-Muslim-peers.html |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}} - Mail Online, December 01, 2007</ref><ref name="teddy bear protest">{{cite web |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/nov/30/uk.schoolsworldwide |title=Jailed teddy row teacher appeals for tolerance |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120801/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/nov/30/uk.schoolsworldwide |archivedate=2012-08-01 |accessdate=2012-08-01}} - Allegra Stratton - Guardian, November 30, 2007</ref> carrying swords, knives, and sticks, after Friday prayers, called for the execution<ref name="Calls in Sudan for Execution">{{cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/01/world/africa/01sudan.html |title=Calls in Sudan for Execution of British Teacher |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/01/world/africa/01sudan.html |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}} - The New York Times, November 30, 2007</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newser.com/story/12982/armed-mob-wants-british-teacher-dead.html |title=Armed Mob Wants British Teacher Dead |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.newser.com/story/12982/armed-mob-wants-british-teacher-dead.html |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}} - Sam Gale Rosen - Newser, November 30, 2007</ref><ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071130/ap_on_re_af/sudan_british_teacher Calls in Sudan for execution of Briton] - Mohamed Osman - Associated Press, November 30, 2007  </ref><ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071130/wl_uk_afp/sudanbritainreligiondiplomacydemo Khartoum demo calls for teacher to be shot] - Charles Onians - Agence France Press, 30 November 2007 </ref> of a British teacher for allowing her students to name a teddy bear 'Muhammad.' And also the "[[Islam and Freedom of Speech#The_Satanic_Verses_Controversy|Satanic Verses]]" controversy, which led to thirty-eight deaths<ref>Dr. Koenraad Elst - {{cite web |url=http://koenraadelst.voiceofdharma.com/articles/misc/rushdie.html |title=Afterword: The Rushdie Affair's Legacy |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120710/http://koenraadelst.voiceofdharma.com/articles/misc/rushdie.html |archivedate=2012-07-10 |accessdate=2012-07-10}}</ref> and nationwide bombings of book-stores in the U.K<ref>Pipes, (1990) p.169-171</ref> and U.S.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/09/arts/riverdale-press-to-be-honored.html |title=Riverdale Press To Be Honored |archiveurl=http://archive.is/20120915/http://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/09/arts/riverdale-press-to-be-honored.html |archivedate=2012-09-15 |accessdate=2012-09-15}} - New York Times - Tuesday, May 9, 1989</ref>

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