Introduction
The global spread of political Islam - or, Islamism - is a complex, nuanced, and fluid phenomenon with critical implications for the durability of international human rights architectures premised on universal norms; for state sovereignty; and for peace, order, and the rule of law. There is ample evidence to suggest the detrimental effects for democracy, economic justice, and security caused by ideas and actors operating under the rubric of Islamism, shorthanded to mean the global spread of sharia law. The Global Political Islam section will provide timely information, updates, and analysis around four focus areas associated with the globalization of Islamism.
Religious Extremism
A significant number of Muslim-majority states around the world lack basic protections for the universal human right of religious freedom - freedom of conscience, belief, and religion, as well as the right to change religion, to practice religion individually and in community, and to share religious belief through the associated universal human right of free speech. The failure to protect religious freedom frequently produces state impunity and societal vigilantism against non-Muslims and non-conforming or non-majority Muslims, making such groups into second-class citizens and, in some case, vulnerable to extinction. This focus area observes trends in violations of religious freedom and associated freedoms of speech and assembly. Particular attention is given to how states use blasphemy laws, anti-conversion laws, property rights laws, as well as to expressions of societal violence, against non-Muslims and non-conforming Muslims.
