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Zusatztext 'This is a bold and trailblazing work that deserves the attention of all who are concerned with contemporary Islam and legal reform. Highly recommended. Public libraries with a serious interest in contemporary Islam and all academic collections serving lower-level undergraduates through faculty/researchers.' Choice '... it is well written! has a useful bibliography and is very reasonably priced.' Ecclesiastical Law Journal 'The book serves as a valuable textbook covering a wide range of opinions and themes as well as looking at a substantial number of hadiths and qur'anic verses. These show how fluid the debate on various forms of apostasy has been from the early stages right up to the present time.' Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations Informationen zum Autor Abdullah Saeed Klappentext Debate on freedom of religion as a human right takes place not only in the Western world but also in Muslim communities throughout the world. For Muslims concerned for this freedom, one of the major difficulties is the 'punishment for apostasy' - death for those who desert Islam. This book argues that the law of apostasy and its punishment by death in Islamic law are untenable in the modern period. The law of apostasy conflicts with a variety of foundation texts of Islam and with the current ethos of human rights, in particular the freedom to choose one's religion. In examining the significant challenges the punishment of apostasy faces in the modern period inside and outside Muslim communities - exploring in particular how the issue is dealt with in a multi-religious Muslim majority country, Malaysia - the authors discuss arguments by prominent Muslims today for an absolute freedom of religion and for discarding the death penalty for apostasy. Zusammenfassung Since Salman Rushdie's fate was sealed by Khomeini in a fatwa, apostasy has acquired great prominence in Islam. This text argues that the death sentence for apostasy violates the Islamic freedom of religion principle. Inhaltsverzeichnis Contents: Introduction, Abdullah Saeed and Hassan Saeed; Part I Abdullah Saeed: The context of the debate on apostasy: freedom of religion in the modern period; The historical context of the debate on apostasy and the roots of intolerance; Apostasy and related concepts; Punishment for apostasy in Islamic law and the evidence; Evidence against capital punishment for apostasy; Apostasy and the position of Muslim thinkers in the modern period; Apostasy law and its potential for misuse; Reasons for apostasy and understanding its fear among Muslims. Part II Hassan Saeed: Religious freedom in Malaysia: overview and restrictions; Apostasy laws in Malaysia: approaches of the two major political parties; Apostasy laws in Malaysia: jurisdiction and constitutionality; Apostasy laws in Malaysia: the future. Part III Abdullah Saeed: The need to rethink apostasy laws. Part IV: Appendices; Notes; Glossary; Bibliography; Index....
