Blasphemy Laws: Death for Criticism
In numerous Muslim-majority countries, criticizing Islam, Muhammad, or the Quran can result in a death sentence. Blasphemy laws—which criminalize any speech, writing, or action deemed insulting to Islam—are among the most powerful tools for silencing dissent and persecuting minorities in the Islamic world. These laws don't just threaten punishment; they create a climate of fear where questioning Islam can mean losing your life.
The Islamic Foundation
While the Quran doesn't explicitly use the term "blasphemy law," it establishes the principle that insulting Allah or Muhammad deserves severe punishment:
"Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive upon earth [to cause] corruption is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land. That is for them a disgrace in this world; and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment."
Quran 5:33
Islamic scholars have interpreted "waging war against Allah and His Messenger" to include verbal attacks, criticism, and mockery. This verse becomes the basis for prosecuting those who speak against Islam.
"Indeed, those who abuse Allah and His Messenger - Allah has cursed them in this world and the Hereafter and prepared for them a humiliating punishment."
Quran 33:57
The hadith literature makes the death penalty for blasphemy even more explicit:
"Allah's Apostle said, 'Who is willing to kill Ka'b bin Al-Ashraf who has hurt Allah and His Apostle?' Thereupon Muhammad bin Maslama got up saying, 'O Allah's Apostle! Would you like that I kill him?' The Prophet said, 'Yes.' Muhammad bin Maslama said, 'Then allow me to say a (false) thing (i.e. to deceive Ka'b).' The Prophet said, 'You may say it.'"
Sahih Bukhari 5:59:369
Ka'b bin Al-Ashraf was a poet who wrote verses critical of Muhammad. Muhammad asked for volunteers to assassinate him and permitted them to use deception to accomplish the murder. This hadith is found in the most authentic collection and establishes a clear precedent: criticizing Muhammad justifies execution.
"A blind man had a slave-mother who used to abuse the Prophet and disparage him. He forbade her but she did not stop. He rebuked her but she did not give up her habit. So one night she began to slander the Prophet and abuse him. He took a dagger, placed it on her belly, pressed it, and killed her. When the morning came, the Prophet was informed about it. He assembled the people and said: 'I adjure by Allah the man who has done this action and I adjure him by my right to him that he should stand up.' Jumping over the necks of the people and trembling the man stood up. He sat before the Prophet and said: 'Apostle of Allah! I am her master; she used to abuse you and disparage you. I forbade her, but she did not stop, and I rebuked her, but she did not abandon her habit. I have two sons like pearls from her, and she was my companion. Last night she began to abuse and disparage you. So I took a dagger, put it on her belly and pressed it till I killed her.' Thereupon the Prophet said: 'Oh be witness, no retaliation is payable for her blood.'"
Sunan Abu Dawud 38:4348
Muhammad declared that no punishment was warranted for killing a woman who insulted him. This hadith has been used for centuries to justify killing blasphemers with impunity.
Modern Blasphemy Laws
Based on these Islamic texts, numerous Muslim-majority countries have codified blasphemy as a criminal offense:
Pakistan: Section 295-C of the Pakistani Penal Code states: "Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by visible representation or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine."
Pakistan's blasphemy laws are the most notorious. Since 1987, thousands have been accused, and dozens have been sentenced to death. Even when courts eventually acquit defendants (which rarely happens), they often spend years in prison and face vigilante violence. Accusers face no penalty for false accusations, leading to widespread abuse of the law.
Saudi Arabia: Blasphemy is punishable by death. This includes "insulting God or His messenger, making polytheistic statements, or attacking Islamic morals and the foundations of the Islamic creed." In practice, this means criticizing Islam, questioning Islamic teaching, converting from Islam, or engaging in "sorcery" can all result in execution.
Iran: Article 262 of the Iranian Penal Code prescribes death for "insulting the Prophet." Numerous Iranians have been executed for "moharebeh" (waging war against God), which includes criticizing the regime or Islam.
Afghanistan: Under Taliban rule, blasphemy is a capital offense. Even under previous governments, conversion from Islam and criticism of Islam were punishable by death.
Mauritania: Article 306 prescribes death for "any Muslim, man or woman, who ridicules or insults Allah, His messengers, His scriptures, or any article of faith in Islam."
Yemen, Somalia, Sudan, Brunei, Qatar, United Arab Emirates: All have laws criminalizing blasphemy with severe penalties including death, imprisonment, and flogging.
Even in countries without explicit death penalties for blasphemy, the laws exist with severe prison terms, and mob violence against accused blasphemers is common.
Real Victims
Blasphemy laws destroy real lives. Here are just a few examples:
Asia Bibi (Pakistan): A Christian woman who spent eight years on death row for blasphemy after an argument with Muslim women about drinking from the same water cup. She was acquitted by the Supreme Court in 2018, but only after years of international pressure. Multiple Pakistani officials who defended her were assassinated, and she had to flee the country for her safety.
Raif Badawi (Saudi Arabia): A blogger sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes for "insulting Islam" through his website promoting free speech. He received 50 lashes publicly in 2015; international outcry prevented further floggings, but he remains imprisoned.
Farkhunda Malikzada (Afghanistan, 2015): A 27-year-old religious teacher was falsely accused of burning a Quran. Despite being innocent, a mob beat her to death, ran over her body with a car, and set her on fire—all while police watched. Investigations later proved she was innocent, but she was already dead.
Younus Shaikh (Pakistan): A medical professor sentenced to death for blasphemy after students accused him of questioning Islamic narratives during a lecture. He spent seven years in prison before international pressure led to his release and exile.
Mahmoud Mohammed Taha (Sudan, 1985): A 76-year-old Islamic scholar who advocated for reforming Sharia was convicted of apostasy and executed by hanging for his writings.
Nahed Hattar (Jordan, 2016): A Christian writer who shared a satirical cartoon about ISIS was arrested for "insulting Islam." Before his trial could conclude, he was assassinated outside the courthouse by an Islamic extremist. His killer was praised by many as defending the faith.
The Chilling Effect
Blasphemy laws don't just punish those convicted. They create a climate of fear that silences millions:
Self-Censorship: Writers, artists, journalists, and ordinary citizens self-censor to avoid accusations. Critical thinking about Islam becomes dangerous, stifling intellectual development.
Weapon Against Minorities: Blasphemy laws disproportionately target religious minorities. Christians, Ahmadis, Hindus, and others face accusations motivated by personal vendettas, property disputes, or simple prejudice.
Tool for Settling Scores: Because accusers face no penalty for false accusations, blasphemy charges are used to settle personal grudges, eliminate business competitors, or target individuals for unrelated reasons.
Mob Justice: Even when courts are reluctant to convict, mobs often take matters into their own hands. Accused blasphemers are beaten, killed, or burned alive by vigilante crowds who believe they're defending Islam.
International Intimidation: Islamic blasphemy enforcement extends beyond Muslim-majority countries. The 2015 Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris, the murder of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh, death threats against Salman Rushdie, and numerous other attacks demonstrate that criticizing Islam can be deadly anywhere.
Organization of Islamic Cooperation
The OIC, representing 57 Muslim-majority nations, has repeatedly attempted to make blasphemy a criminal offense internationally. They've pushed for UN resolutions against "defamation of religions" (meaning Islam), seeking to make criticism of Islam illegal worldwide.
While these efforts have largely failed in Western countries committed to free speech, they demonstrate Islam's global aspiration to criminalize criticism. The goal is not just to protect Muslims from discrimination but to shield Islam itself from scrutiny.
The Irony of Islamic Criticism
While Islam demands protection from criticism through blasphemy laws, the Quran itself contains harsh criticism of other faiths:
"Indeed, they who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture and the polytheists will be in the fire of Hell, abiding eternally therein. Those are the worst of creatures."
Quran 98:6
"The Jews say, 'Ezra is the son of Allah' and the Christians say, 'The Messiah is the son of Allah.' That is their statement from their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved [before them]. May Allah destroy them; how are they deluded?"
Quran 9:30
The Quran calls Jews and Christians liars, curses them, and consigns them to hell. Yet Muslims demand that no one criticize Islam with similar vigor. This double standard reveals that blasphemy laws are not about protecting religious sensitivity—they're about protecting Islamic supremacy.
Biblical Contrast
Christianity has faced criticism, mockery, and blasphemy throughout its history. Jesus Himself was accused of blasphemy:
"The high priest asked him, 'Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?' And Jesus said, 'I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.' And the high priest tore his garments and said, 'What further witnesses do we need? You have heard his blasphemy.'"
Mark 14:61-64
Jesus was executed for what the religious authorities considered blasphemy. Yet He didn't command His followers to kill those who insulted Him. Instead:
"When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly."
1 Peter 2:23
When mocked and crucified, Jesus prayed: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). This is the Christian response to blasphemy—not execution, but prayer for those who persecute.
The Apostle Paul, before his conversion, persecuted Christians. He described himself as a "blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent" of Christ (1 Timothy 1:13). Yet Jesus didn't order Paul's execution. Instead, He appeared to Paul, transformed him, and made him the greatest missionary in Christian history.
Christianity teaches that we should respond to criticism with truth and love:
"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them."
Romans 12:14
"But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
Matthew 5:44
These commands don't permit Christian governments to execute blasphemers. They require believers to respond to insults with blessing, to criticism with truth, and to persecution with prayer.
Truth Doesn't Need Protection
The existence of blasphemy laws raises a profound question: If Islam is true, why does it need government violence to protect it from criticism? Truth is robust—it withstands scrutiny. Lies need protection.
Christianity has faced two millennia of criticism, mockery, and intellectual challenge. Yet Christian apologists engage critics with arguments, not assassinations. The truthfulness of Christianity can be examined, questioned, and tested because truth welcomes investigation.
Islam's blasphemy laws suggest a faith that fears scrutiny. A religion confident in its truth would encourage examination. A religion demanding death for criticism reveals insecurity about its foundations.
Questions to Consider
- If Islam is true, why does it need death penalties to protect it from criticism?
- How can there be honest inquiry about Islam when questioning it can result in execution?
- Why does the Quran freely criticize other faiths while Muslims demand protection from criticism?
- Is a faith that kills critics demonstrating strength or weakness?
- Can you truly claim to believe something if you've never been allowed to question it?
- Which approach better reflects divine confidence—Jesus praying for His executioners or Muhammad ordering the assassination of critics?
- If many Muslims privately have doubts about their faith, what does it say that they cannot express these doubts without fear of death?
- Is a religion that cannot tolerate criticism worthy of your allegiance?