Blasphemy laws of Islamic Republic of Iran

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject.
WikiProject Law or the Law Portal may be able to help recruit one.
If a more appropriate WikiProject or portal exists, please adjust this template accordingly.

Blasphemy laws of Islamic Republic of Iran are laws against disrespecting Islam and the clerical members of the government in high positions. Blasphemy laws are in line with sharia[1] The International Humanist and Ethical Union promulgates such laws as "frivolous and vindictive".[2] These laws are the backbone of the religious component of censorship in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Contents

[edit] Incidents

Many news outlets have been closed on allegations of "insulting Islam" or criticizing "the Islamic foundation of the Republic."[3] One need not necessarily use crude and lewd language; it is very dangerous to openly criticize the foundations of Islam or question the divinity of, for instance, the Quran.

The most famous example is the sentencing of Salman Rushdie to death[4] which the government of Iran has been unable to carry out in Great Britain due to lack of jurisdiction. Part of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's attainder by religious edict states

“ I would like to inform all the intrepid Muslims in the world. . . that the author of the book titled The Satanic Verses, which has been compiled, printed, and published in opposition to Islam, the Prophet, and the Koran, as well as those publishers who were aware of its contents, have been declared madhur el dam [“those whose blood must be shed”]. I call on all zealous Muslims to execute them quickly, wherever they find them, so that no one will dare to insult Islam again. . . .[4][5] ”

[edit] Freedom of expression

On the other hand, there is freedom of expression if the manner thereof is not subversive to the government and seditious, heretical[6], profane and vulgar, pornographic, or as Article 24 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran states: "Article 24 (Freedom of the Press) Publications and the press have freedom of expression except when it is detrimental to the fundamental principles of Islam or the rights of the public. The details of this exception will be specified by law." [7]

For example, in 2006, the Iranian government held International Holocaust Cartoon Competition[8][9] the winner whereof had depicted the Israelis committing genocide against the Palestinians.[10]

[edit] See also

[edit] References and notes

  1. ^ Ford Has a Better Idea: One Nation Under Allah
  2. ^ International Humanist and Ethical Union 30 November 2000
  3. ^ United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
  4. ^ a b CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS FOUNDATION
  5. ^ Ayatollah Khomeini's fatwa against Salman Rushdie read on Iran's state radio on 14 February 1989
  6. ^ http://www.mesbahyazdi.org/lib/instruct/index.htm ...non-literal interpretations of various verses of the Qur’ān and narrations attributed to the Prophet and his folk (ṣ). The reaction from the literal minded is predictable: charges of heresy..."
  7. ^ http://mellat.majlis.ir/CONSTITUTION/ENGLISH.HTM
  8. ^ Holocaust Cartoon Contest-2006 IRAN CARTOON International
  9. ^ Iranian TV Report on International Holocaust Cartoon Contest in Tehran
  10. ^ Moroccan wins Iran Holocaust cartoon contest AP via MSNBC 2 November 2006

[edit] External links

 This Iran-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.


 This Islam-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../b/l/a/Blasphemy_laws_of_Islamic_Republic_of_Iran_38e0.html"