Global Blasphemy Laws

There are 84 countries across the globe with criminal blasphemy laws on the books as of 2020. While only a handful of countries enforce these laws, there are still 84 countries in which a person could face criminal charges for insulting or offending religious doctrines in regions that include Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and others. There are a plethora of ways that governments’ enforcement of blasphemy laws undermines human rights, including freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression. This week's discussion features:Dwight Bashir, Director of Outreach and Policy, USCIRFElizabeth Cassidy, Director of Research and Policy, USCIRF Read the report: Violating Rights: Enforcing the World’s Blasphemy Laws