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Islam and heresy
Where freedom is still at stake

Islam and heterodox religious freedom in Sri Lanka in one fell swoop
Aug 6th 2009
From The Economist print edition
Wanted: Islam's Voltaire
Urgent: Islamic world, Voltaire
TO MOST Western ears, the very idea of punishing heresy conjures up a time four or five centuries ago, when Spanish inquisitors terrorised dissenters with the rack and Russian tsars would burn alive whole communities of ultra-traditionalist Old Believers. Most religions began as heresies. Today the concept of arguments about where the boundaries of that community lie, and how far the meaning of its founding axioms can be stretched. But one of the hallmarks of a civilised and tolerant society is that arguments within freely constituted groups, religious or otherwise, unfold peacefully. And if those disputes lead to splits and new groups, that too must be a peaceful process, free of violence or coercion.
For most Westerners, that punishment of heresy, then people think it is four to five hundred years ago things. At that time, the Spanish Inquisition, the rack of the official state religion of those who believe in the threat declined, Russia's Czar Area burned believe in the traditional Orthodox believers in the old school. Many religions have originated in heresy. Today, Each built on a concept of group norms or purpose (whether fox hunting enthusiasts or Freudian psychiatrist who), will often face the boundary of the group where the concept of its significance to foundation extends to what extent, and so the heated debate. However, a tolerance is a sign of civilized society: the establishment of such dispute must be free of religious or non-religious groups for a peaceful way to start. Even if these disputes result in groups of divisions and the birth of new groups, this process must be peaceful, without violence or the way of deterrence.
How depressing [link widoczny dla zalogowanych], then, to find that in the heartland of one of the world's great religions, Islam, charges of heresy are still being bandied about in a violent and threatening way, in the hope of silencing critical voices. The latest figure to face such an accusation is an Egyptian scholar, Sayed al-Qimani, whose profile has risen since he agreed to accept a prize from his country's semi-secular cultural authorities (see article). Mr Qimani's work-which would be unremarkable in any Western context-applies the familiar techniques of empirical research to early Islamic history.
but frustrating is that in one of the world's major religious center of Islam, in order to eliminate the voice of criticism, is still using the means of violence and deterrence free to impose charges on heresy. Recently a person was charged and scholars in Egypt Said Aquinas Manila (Sayed al-Qimani), this person received a semi-religious culture of Egypt, issued by the agency known a prizes. Kui Mani's work in any Western context are extremely unusual, with our well-known empirical methods to study of early Islamic history.
As so often these days, he faces not punishment by his own government but the potentially lethal consequences of being denounced as a heretic by several influential groups in the quarrelsome world of Egyptian Islam. To the ears of a zealot, such a denunciation sounds like an invitation to go out and claim a heavenly reward by slaying the offender.
but lately he often faced with the possibility of death, not because the government imposed by the country, but because they were quarreling Islam in Egypt teach a number of influential groups condemned as heretics. In view of religious zealots, such as a call for people to condemn the action, killing the sinner to perform the curse of heaven.
The deadly effects of heresy charges are only part of the broader problem of fundamentalist Islam's incompatibility with human rights. At its sternest, Islamic law prescribes the death penalty for anybody who commits obvious sense [link widoczny dla zalogowanych], that refers to people who openly convert to another religion. In many Muslim countries, law or social pressure makes such a choice almost impossible. That is a severe limit on religious freedom.
accused of heresy lead to fatal consequences [link widoczny dla zalogowanych], Islamic extremism is a major issue of conflict and human rights a part of. The most stringent provisions of Islamic law, for any committed In many Muslim countries, legal and social pressure makes it almost impossible to choose a religion. This is the severe restrictions on religious freedom.
An insidious charge
sinister allegations
But liberty is abused in an equally insidious way when accusers conflate apostasy with heresy-by alleging that somebody claiming to be a Muslim has erred by advancing false interpretations. This is almost impossible for the to be regarded as one of apostasy and heresy, declared: calls himself a Muslim, if the wrong interpretation by, is a crime. This makes No matter how strong the accused claim to be faithful to Islam, the accused can always find some evidence of guilt of the Department.
So who will speak up for Mr Qimani and similar outcasts? Statements in his defence would carry huge weight if they came from prominent Muslim figures, especially those who happened to disagree with his ideas on Islamic history.
So who will Kui Mani and other similar defense of the excluded? If the important Muslim figures, particularly those who just do not agree Kui Mani views of Islamic history to defend the people, such arguments will cause a great impact.
Perhaps people living in the repressive atmosphere that prevails in much of the Islamic world can be forgiven if their courage falters. But what of the Muslim diaspora? So far, just a handful of Muslims living in the West have spoken out unequivocally for the rights of coreligionists with dissonant views to live in safety (see article). There should be more of them. Indeed, there is an opportunity here for somebody. It turns out the French thinker Voltaire probably never uttered the words so often ascribed to him : it.
suppressed for living in the air enveloped the people of the Islamic world, and perhaps shake their courage can be forgiven. However, the Muslims who live in foreign countries do? So far, Muslims living in the West, only a few of the few people spoke clearly in support of the same religion have different views in life should have the right to security. More people should come forward. Now there is a heaven-sent opportunity. Have a name often attributed to Voltaire, the famous French thinker, though not really from his mouth, Sheng-Che Lin became the first Muslim state to be this famous philosopher, and practice.