Freedom of Expression in Islam and Liberal Democracies

This book offers a systematic comparative study of freedom of expression in Islamic legal thought and Western liberal democratic traditions. It investigates how both systems conceptualise freedom of expression within broader moral frameworks that also include concerns about social order, dignity, and public morality.

The book argues that freedom of expression in both traditions is morally embedded rather than an unlimited individual right. Although liberal democracies tend to articulate speech protections through constitutional and human-rights principles, Islamic legal traditions integrate speech norms within a broader moral and religious framework. Despite these differences, both systems recognise that freedom of expression must coexist with other social and ethical values. The author considers events such as the Salman Rushdie affair (1989), The Danish Cartoon Crisis (2005), the anti-Islam film Innocence of Muslims (2012), and the Charlie Hebdo shooting (2015), which have intensified political and academic discussions about whether Islamic traditions are compatible with liberal commitments to free expression.

By combining Islamic legal scholarship, political philosophy, and comparative legal analysis, the book contributes to contemporary debates on freedom of speech, pluralism, and the relationship between religion and liberal democratic norms. The book is ideal for scholars, students, and researchers in law, political philosophy, and religious studies, as well as policymakers and readers seeking a balanced analysis of this contested debate.