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Full-Text Articles in Law
Law, Religion And Violence: A Human Rights-Based Response To Punishment (By State And Non-State Actors) Of Apostasy, Ben Clarke
Law Papers and Journal Articles
This article examines Islamic law on the punishment of apostasy and its use and abuse by state and non-state actors to justify the taking of human life. It highlights the traditional view of Muslim jurists that apostates must be killed. This approach is contrasted with the growing body of juristic opinion that holds that neither the Qur’an nor authoritative hadith requires apostates to be executed. This debate has assumed greater importance since al-Qaeda and similar groups have sought to justify acts of violence on the grounds that they are engaged in lawful jihad against apostates, apostate governments and collaborators. The …
Law, Religion And Violence: The Importance Of Islamic Law As A Tool For Refuting The Ideology Of Violent Extremists, Ben Clarke
Law Conference Papers
Violent attacks by radical Islamists against civilians represents a serious and continuing threat to human security in a number of States, including India and to a lesser extent Australia. Causes of such violence have been extensively debated in the literature of a variety of disciplines including law, psychology and political science. This paper examines one aspect of this debate: the use by extremists of concepts derived from Islamic law to justify violence against civilians. It does so by identifying religious norms that underpin the ideology of radical Islamists who engage in terrorism. The thesis advanced here is that an effective …