Blasphemy Charges Dropped Against Christian Girl in Pakistan Accused of Burning the Qur'an

Religion Clause Blog has a post about an Islamabad court dropping the blasphemy charges against Rimsha Masih, a Christian girl accused of burning the Qur'an.  The story became a high-profile one, made more dramatic by accusations that a Muslim cleric attempted to frame the girl.

Blasphemy Prosecution Against "Corpus Christi" Launched in Greece

Volokh Conspiracy has a post about a prosecution for blasphemy launched recently against the actors, producer, and director of the popular American play "Corpus Christi."  The play, which features a gay Jesus, provoked demonstrations outside the theater where it was to be performed in Athens and has been cancelled.

Religion Provisions of the Maldives Constitution (2008)

One of my current research projects involves analysis of the religion provisions of various constitutions enacted since the year 2000. From time to time on this blog, I'll post extracts of those provisions arranged according to categories such as "Religious Freedom" (guarantee of individual rights), "Established Religion" (joining religion and government), "Establishment Clause" (separating religion and government), "Ceremonial Deism" (symbolic references to religion that have little or no legal effect), "Equal Protection of Religion" (non-discrimination guarantees), "Preamble", "Religious Education", and "Religious Limitations."
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The 2008 Maldives Constitution is the foremost example of so-called "theocratic constitutionalism."  An established religion, Islam, permeates the text through and through, affecting everything from citizenship to capacity to hold public office to rights and more.

Maldives Constitution 2008

Established Religion

Article 2.  The Maldives is a sovereign, independent, democratic Republic based on the principles of Islam

10. (a) The religion of the State of the Maldives is Islam. Islam shall be the one of the basis of all the laws of the Maldives

(b) No law contrary to any tenet of Islam shall be enacted in the Maldives

16. (a) This Constitution guarantees to all persons, in a manner that is not contrary to any tenet of Islam, the rights and freedoms contained within this Chapter, subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by a law enacted by the People’s Majlis in a manner that is not contrary to this Constitution.

19. A citizen is free to engage in any conduct or activity that is not expressly prohibited by Islamic Shari’ah or by law. No control or restraint may be exercised against any person unless it is expressly authorised by law.

27. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought and the freedom to communicate opinions and expression in a manner that is not contrary to any tenet of Islam.

67. The exercise and enjoyment of fundamental rights and freedoms is inseparable from the performance of responsibilities and duties, and it is the responsibility

of every citizen:

(g) to preserve and protect the State religion of

Islam,

70. (a) The legislative authority of the Maldives shall be vested in the People’s Majlis.

(b) The law making powers of the People’s Majlis pursuant to article (a), includes the following powers:

2. the enactment of legislation with regard to any matter, or the amendment or

repeal of any law, which is not inconsistent with any tenet of Islam;

(c) The People’s Majlis shall not pass any law that contravenes any tenet of Islam.

90. (a) No member or other person shall be liable to any proceedings in any court, and no person shall be subject to any inquiry, arrest, detention or prosecution, with respect to anything said in, produced before, or submitted to the People’s Majlis or any of its committees, or with respect to any vote given if the same is not contrary to

any tenet of Islam.

100. (a) The People’s Majlis, by a resolution, may remove the President or the Vice President from office only on the grounds of:

1. direct violation of a tenet of Islam, the Constitution or law;

142. The Judges are independent, and subject only to the Constitution and the law. When deciding matters on which the Constitution or the law is silent, Judges must

consider Islamic Shari’ah.

Religious Limitations

9(d) Despite the provisions of article (a) a non-Muslim may not become a citizen of the

Maldives.

73. (a) A person elected to be a member of the People’s Majlis shall be so qualified if he:

1. is a citizen of the Maldives;

2. is not a citizen of a foreign country;

3. is a Muslim and a follower of a Sunni

school of Islam;

109. A person elected as President shall have the following qualifications:

(a) be a Maldivian citizen born to parents who are Maldivian citizens, and who is not also a citizen of a foreign country;

(b) be a Muslim and a follower of a Sunni school of Islam;

130. (a) A person shall be qualified to be a member of the Cabinet if he:

1. is a citizen of the Maldives;

2. is not a citizen of a foreign country;

3. is a Muslim and a follower of a Sunni school of Islam;

149. (b) In addition to the qualifications specified in article (a), a Judge shall possess the following qualifications:-

1. be a Muslim and a follower of a Sunni school of Islam;

Religious Education

36(c)  Education shall strive to inculcate obedience to Islam, instil love for Islam, foster respect for human rights, and promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all people.

Miscellaneous

274.  “tenet of Islam” means, the Holy Qur’an and those principles of Shari’ah whose provenance is not in dispute from among those found in the Sunna of the Noble Prophet, and those principles derived from these two foundations;

“Islamic Shari’ah” means, the Holy Qur’an and the ways preferred by the learned people within the community and followers of the Sunnah in relation to criminal, civil, personal and other matters found in the Sunna;

Ceremonial Deisms

Schedule 1

1. OATH OF OFFICE OF PRESIDENT

I, …(name of person)…, do swear in the name of Almighty Allah that I will respect the religion of Islam, that I will uphold the Constitution of the Republic of Maldives and the fundamental rights of the Maldivian citizens, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Republic of Maldives, and will discharge the duties and responsibilities of the office of President honestly and faithfully in accordance with the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Maldives.

2. OATH OF OFFICE OF VICE PRESIDENT

I, …(name of person)…, do swear in the name of Almighty Allah that I will respect the religion of Islam, that I will uphold the Constitution of the Republic of Maldives and the fundamental rights of the Maldivian citizens, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Republic of Maldives, and will discharge the duties and responsibilities of the office of Vice President honestly and faithfully in accordance with the Constitution and laws of the

Republic of Maldives.

3. OATH OF OFFICE OF MEMBERS OF THE CABINET

I, …(name of person)…, do swear in the name of Almighty Allah that I will respect the religion of Islam, that I will uphold the Constitution of the Republic of Maldives and the fundamental rights of the Maldivian citizens, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Republic of Maldives, and will discharge the duties and responsibilities entrusted to me by the President and my duties and responsibilities as Cabinet Minister/ Attorney General

honestly and faithfully in accordance with the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Maldives.

4. OATH OF OFFICE OF MEMBERS OF THE PEOPLE’S MAJLIS

I, …(name of person)…, do swear in the name of Almighty Allah that I will respect the religion of Islam, that I will uphold the Constitution of the Republic of Maldives and the fundamental rights of the Maldivian citizens, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Republic of Maldives, and will discharge my duties and responsibilities as a member of the People’s Majlis honestly and faithfully in accordance with the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of Maldives.

5. OATH OF OFFICE OF CHIEF JUSTICE AND JUDGES

I, …(name of person)…, do swear in the name of Almighty Allah that I will respect the religion of Islam, that I will uphold the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of Maldives, that I will uphold the fundamental rights of the Maldivian citizens and will discharge the duties and responsibilities of Chief Justice/ Judge honestly and faithfully in accordance with the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Maldives.

6. OATH OF OFFICE OF MEMBERS OF INDEPENDENT COMMISSIONS AND

INDEPENDENT OFFICES

I, …(name of person)…, do swear in the name of Almighty Allah that I will respect the religion of Islam, that I will uphold the Constitution of the Republic of Maldives, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Maldives, that I will uphold the fundamental rights of the Maldivian citizens and will discharge the duties and responsibilities of Auditor General/

Prosecutor General/ membership of the Elections Commission/ membership of the Judicial Service Commission/ membership of the Human Rights Commission/ membership of the Civil Service Commission/ membership of the Anti-Corruption Commission honestly and faithfully in accordance with the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Maldives.

Religion Provisions of the Madagascar Constitution

One of my current research projects involves analysis of the religion provisions of various constitutions enacted since the year 2000. From time to time on this blog, I'll post extracts of those provisions arranged according to categories such as "Religious Freedom" (guarantee of individual rights), "Established Religion" (joining religion and government), "Establishment Clause" (separating religion and government), "Ceremonial Deism" (symbolic references to religion that have little or no legal effect), "Equal Protection of Religion" (non-discrimination guarantees), "Preamble", "Religious Education", and "Religious Limitations."
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The Madagascar Constitution of 2010 presents a very strong and specific Establishment Clause.  Rough translations are mine.

Madagascar Constitution 2010

Preamble

Affirmant sa croyance au Dieu créateur  ["affirming belief in God as creator"]

Establishment Clause

Article 3.- Le Peuple Malagasy constitue une Nation organisée en Etat souverain, unitaire, républicain et laïc.  ["The people of Madagascar constitute a nation organized into a State that is sovereign, unified, republican, and secular."]

Article 4.- L’Etat affirme sa neutralité à l’égard des différentes religions. ["The State affirms neutrality towards different religions."]

La laïcité de la République repose sur le principe de la séparation des affaires de l’Etat et des institutions religieuses et de leurs représentants.  ["The secularity of the Republic rests on the principle of the separation of the affairs of the State and of religious institutions and their representatives."]

L’Etat et les institutions religieuses s’interdisent toute immixtion dans leurs domaines respectifs. ["The State and religious institutions are completely forbidden to mix in their respective domains."]

L’Etat ne subventionne ni ne finance les institutions religieuses. ["The State shall neither subsidize nor finance religious institutions."]

Aucun Chef d’Institution ni membre de Gouvernement ne peuvent faire partie des instances dirigeantes d’une Institution religieuse, sous peine d’être déchu par la Haute Cour Constitutionnelle ou d’être démis d’office de son mandat ou de sa fonction.  ["No Department Head or member of Government can take part in the leadership of a religious institution, under penalty of being removed by the High Constitutional Court or of being stripped of office, mandate, or function."]

Equal Protection of Religion

Article 8  Tous les individus sont égaux en droit et jouissent des mêmes libertés fondamentales protégées par la loi sans discrimination fondée sur le sexe, le degré d'instruction, la fortune, l'origine, la race, la croyance religieuse ou l'opinion.["All individuals are equal before the law and enjoy the same fundamental liberties protected by law without discrimination based on sex, education, wealth, nationality, race, religious belief, or opinion."]

Religious Freedom

Article 13.- Les libertés d'opinion et d'expression, de communication, de presse, d'association, de réunion, de circulation, de conscience et de religion sont garanties à tous et ne peuvent être limitées que par le respect des libertés et droits d'autrui, et par l'impératif de sauvegarde de l'ordre public, de la dignité nationale et de la sécurité de l’Etat.  ["The liberties of opinion and expression, of communication, of the press, of association, or assembly, of publishing, of conscience, and of religion are guaranteed to everyone and cannot be limited except for the need to respect the rights and liberties of others, the urgent maintenance of public order, national dignity, or national security."]

Miscellaneous

Article 53.- Les fonctions de Président de la République sont incompatibles avec toute fonction publique élective, toute autre activité professionnelle, toute activité au sein d'un parti politique et de l’exercice de responsabilité au sein d’une institution religieuse.  ["The functions of the President of the Republic are incompatible with . . . the exercise of responsibility for the care of a religious institution."]

Toute violation des dispositions du présent article, constatée par la Haute Cour Constitutionnelle, constitue un motif d’empêchement définitif du Président de la République.  ["Every violation of the restrictions of this section constitute grounds for permanent impeachment of the President of the Republic by the High Constitutional Court."]

Religion Provisions of the Libyan Interim Constitution of 2011

One of my current research projects involves analysis of the religion provisions of various constitutions enacted since the year 2000. From time to time on this blog, I'll post extracts of those provisions arranged according to categories such as "Religious Freedom" (guarantee of individual rights), "Established Religion" (joining religion and government), "Establishment Clause" (separating religion and government), "Ceremonial Deism" (symbolic references to religion that have little or no legal effect), "Equal Protection of Religion" (non-discrimination guarantees), "Preamble", "Religious Education", and "Religious Limitations."

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Below are the religion provisions of the 2011 Interim Constitution authored by the Transitional National Council.  It creates Islam as the established religion of the country, while still purporting to guarantee freedom of religion for worshippers of other faiths.  Note that this document may have been superseded.

Libyan Interim Constitution 2011

--authored by Transitional National Council

Preamble

In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate

can bring up the new generations according to the Islamic spirit

Established Religion

Article 1:  Islam is the Religion of the State and the principal source of legislation is Islamic Jurisprudence (Shari'a).

Religious Freedom

Article 1:  The State shall guarantee for non-Moslems the freedom of practicing religious rituals

Equal Protection Religion

Article 6  Libyans shall be equal before the law. They shall enjoy equal civil and political rights, shall have the same opportunities, and be subject to the same public duties and obligations, without

discrimination due to religion, doctrine, language, wealth, race, kinship, political opinions, and social status, tribal or eminent or familial loyalty.

Ceremonial Deisms

Article 7  The State shall endeavor to promulgate new charters which shall honor the human being as being God's successor on Earth.

Article 19  The President of the Interim Transitional National Council shall take oath before the Council and the members of the Interim Transitional National Council shall take oath in the following formula :

“I swear by Almighty God to carry out the duties of my job honestly and truthfully, to remain

faithful to the goals and principles of the Interim Transitional National Council in Libya, to

respect the constitutional charter and internal statutes thereof, to look after the interests of the

Libyan people in full and to safeguard the independence, security and unity and territorial

integrity of the motherland."