Opinion: Is God on the side of blasphemy laws?
Los Angeles TimesMay 01, 2023
A Mauritanian high school student has been arrested and charged with blasphemy over a mock exam paper that allegedly disrespected the Prophet Muhammad, the public prosecutor's office said on Thursday.
The 19-year-old woman was remanded in custody on Wednesday for "disrespect and mockery of the Prophet," and using social media to "undermine the holy values of Islam."
Draconian, anachronistic blasphemy laws are often used to persecute a country's religious minorities and settle personal vendettas against political opponents. Imprisoning and killing those who question the dominant religion is not a move toward tolerance. It's wrong to disrespect others' beliefs, but executions will never make believers out of dissenters.
Mauritania cannot remain a mute spectator if so-called atheists show a complete lack of respect for the country's blasphemy laws. Anyone disregarding or disobeying the state's religion and the Prophet Muhammad is a criminal under domestic legislation. The government is entitled to execute any anti-Islamic propagandists seeking to organize anti-religious activities, or those who blaspheme the country's culture and religion.
There's a 50% chance that at least 20.5% of the global population will identify as "religiously unaffiliated" in 2050, according to the Metaculus prediction community.