In a recent article in The Economist, a new study by the Pew Research Center reported on the different meaning that sharia law has in different countries. Sharia law is the
moral code and religious law of Islam. The
survey of 38,000 Muslims conducted in 39 countries examined the
opinions that Muslims in predominately Islamic nations expressed on a number of
issues related to sharia law, such as religious freedom, the
use of religious judges, and the execution of those who leave Islam.
In Morocco 78% of respondents think
that non-Muslims are free to practice their faith and 79% of those think this
is “a good thing.” Yet 83% of this group wants sharia enshrined
in their nation’s law. A majority of Thais (77%) and Pakistanis (84%) yearn for
Islamic law too. But most also say that other religions are free to worship
(79% and 75% respectively) and they agree that this is “a good
thing.” Religious freedom, however, is a slippery term, with implications
for individuals and for the collective practice of faith. Muslims in some
countries both strongly approve of religious freedom and support the death
penalty for apostates from Islam. Three-quarters of Pakistanis who favor sharia agree.
Views vary over how sharia should be applied. Tunisian backers when
asked about specific features of sharia law, support the use
of religious judges (62%), but have far less appetite for executing apostates
(29%). And those countries where most support sharia are not
always its strictest followers, though around three-quarters endorse it in both
Indonesia and Egypt. And 74% of Egyptians who favor sharia also think it should apply to non-Muslims,
the highest proportion among polled countries. To
read the full report, please visit The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.
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