Sharia Update

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The draft of the Afghan constitution, published in October, enshrines much of Sharia law and fails to provide for freedom of thought, conscience and religion. It would criminalize dissent and criticism of Islam through blasphemy laws. Afghan leaders should amend the draft constitution specifically to ensure the human rights guarantees that Afghanistan has already accepted and ratified in international treaties.

Attempts to include these fundamental freedoms have been hampered by hard-line clerics such as Afghanistan’s chief justice, Fazl Hadi Shinwari, who has said that he accepts the Universal Declaration on Human Rights with three exceptions: freedom of expression, freedom of religion and equality of the sexes.

The United States and the international community should insist that the final version of the constitution specifically protect these core human rights for all Afghans.

Amina Lawal

The young Nigerian mother sentenced to death by stoning for sex outside marriage has had her appeal accepted – but on a technicality. The international community must continue to apply pressure to the Nigerian Government and President Obasanjo to use their powers under the Federal Constitution to overturn the strict application of the Sharia in the northern Nigerian states.

NO to Political Islam

This Muslim-led campaign, to which IHEU is lending its full support, is on schedule for launch in late November. We will keep all IHEU member organizations and supporters informed of progress.