Censorship in Islamic societies: Difference between revisions
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In [[Egypt]] in the late 1990s, Khalil Jibran's "The Prophet" was ordered removed from the library at the [[American University in Cairo]] by government authorities.<ref name=Najjar>{{cite journal|last=Najjar|first=Fauzi M.|title=Book Banning in Contemporary Egypt|journal=Muslim World|year=2001|volume=91|accessdate=17 September 2012|page=399|publisher=Wiley-Blackwell|issn=00274909}}</ref> Censorship has been defended in Egypt by noted writers, such as Rif'at Sayyid Ahmad, who stated: "Freedom of publication must be limited by the intentions of the Shari'a and the principles of religion.”<ref name=Najjar /> As recently as 2007, the courts were used to try and silence writers whom the censors deemed inappropriate, such as the questioning of [[Nawal El Saadawi]] as part of a ''hisba'' lawsuit to declare her an infidel or non-believer for her writings.<ref name="El Saadawi">{{cite journal|last=El Saadawi|first=Nawal|title=Free Speech on the Retreat|journal=Index on Censorship|year=2007|volume=36|pages=185-187|doi=10.1080/03064220701332877|accessdate=17 September 2012|issn=03064220}}</ref> |
In [[Egypt]] in the late 1990s, Khalil Jibran's "The Prophet" was ordered removed from the library at the [[American University in Cairo]] by government authorities.<ref name=Najjar>{{cite journal|last=Najjar|first=Fauzi M.|title=Book Banning in Contemporary Egypt|journal=Muslim World|year=2001|volume=91|accessdate=17 September 2012|page=399|publisher=Wiley-Blackwell|issn=00274909}}</ref> Censorship has been defended in Egypt by noted writers, such as Rif'at Sayyid Ahmad, who stated: "Freedom of publication must be limited by the intentions of the Shari'a and the principles of religion.”<ref name=Najjar /> As recently as 2007, the courts were used to try and silence writers whom the censors deemed inappropriate, such as the questioning of [[Nawal El Saadawi]] as part of a ''hisba'' lawsuit to declare her an infidel or non-believer for her writings.<ref name="El Saadawi">{{cite journal|last=El Saadawi|first=Nawal|title=Free Speech on the Retreat|journal=Index on Censorship|year=2007|volume=36|pages=185-187|doi=10.1080/03064220701332877|accessdate=17 September 2012|issn=03064220}}</ref> |
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In 2007, the [[Sudanese teddy bear blasphemy case]] demonstrated the censorship effect of Islamic [[blasphemy]] laws with the arrest, trial, conviction, and imprisonment of British schoolteacher Gillian Gibbons in [[Sudan]].<ref name=Graham>{{cite journal|last=Graham|first=L. Bennett|title=Defamation of Religions: The End of Pluralism?|journal=Emory International Law Review|year=2009|volume=23|page=69|publisher=Emory University}}</ref> She was arrested by "men with big beards ... saying they wanted to kill her"<ref name=Belknap>{{cite journal|last=Belknap|first=Allison G.|title=Defamation of Religions: A Vague and Overbroad Theory that Threatens Basic Human Rights|journal=Brigham Young University Law Review|year=2010|volume=2010|page=635|publisher=Brigham Young University}}</ref> and imprisoned for allegedly insulting Islam by allowing her class to name a [[teddy bear]] "Muhammad." Only the intervention of the British government prevented harsher punishment.<ref name=Graham /><ref name=Belknap /> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 10:09, 17 September 2012
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Some Islamic teachings and arguments have been used to censor certain opinions and writings in Islamic countries. One example would be the issuing of several fatwas (or religious rulings) against the controversial novel The Satanic Verses, which ordered that the author be executed for blasphemy. In addition to this certain depictions of Muhammad in certain countries have inspired considerable controversy around the world. In 2007, after student newspapers at Amirkabir University of Technology published articles suggesting that no human being—including Muhammad--could be infallible, eight student leaders were moved to Evin Prison.[1] Two notable crackdowns on the Iranian press also occurred on August 7–11, 1979, during the Islamic Revolution when the Khomeini was consolidating control, where dozens of non-Islamist newspapers were banned under a new press law banning "counter-revolutionary policies and acts." [2]
In Egypt in the late 1990s, Khalil Jibran's "The Prophet" was ordered removed from the library at the American University in Cairo by government authorities.[3] Censorship has been defended in Egypt by noted writers, such as Rif'at Sayyid Ahmad, who stated: "Freedom of publication must be limited by the intentions of the Shari'a and the principles of religion.”[3] As recently as 2007, the courts were used to try and silence writers whom the censors deemed inappropriate, such as the questioning of Nawal El Saadawi as part of a hisba lawsuit to declare her an infidel or non-believer for her writings.[4]
In 2007, the Sudanese teddy bear blasphemy case demonstrated the censorship effect of Islamic blasphemy laws with the arrest, trial, conviction, and imprisonment of British schoolteacher Gillian Gibbons in Sudan.[5] She was arrested by "men with big beards ... saying they wanted to kill her"[6] and imprisoned for allegedly insulting Islam by allowing her class to name a teddy bear "Muhammad." Only the intervention of the British government prevented harsher punishment.[5][6]
See also
- Islamic ethics#Freedom of expression
- Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
- Blasphemy laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran
- Internet censorship in Iran
- Blasphemy law in Pakistan
- Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance (Iran)
- Everybody Draw Mohammed Day
- Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
- The Satanic Verses controversy
- Depictions of Muhammad
References
- ^ MacFarquhar, Neil. (2007). "Iran Cracks Down on Dissent". The New York Times. Retrieved June 24, 2007.
- ^ Schirazi, The Constitution of Iran, Tauris, 1997 p.51
- ^ a b Najjar, Fauzi M. (2001). "Book Banning in Contemporary Egypt". Muslim World. 91. Wiley-Blackwell: 399. ISSN 0027-4909.
{{cite journal}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ El Saadawi, Nawal (2007). "Free Speech on the Retreat". Index on Censorship. 36: 185–187. doi:10.1080/03064220701332877. ISSN 0306-4220.
{{cite journal}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ a b Graham, L. Bennett (2009). "Defamation of Religions: The End of Pluralism?". Emory International Law Review. 23. Emory University: 69.
- ^ a b Belknap, Allison G. (2010). "Defamation of Religions: A Vague and Overbroad Theory that Threatens Basic Human Rights". Brigham Young University Law Review. 2010. Brigham Young University: 635.