Democracy and Human Rights in Islam

Islamic democracy refers to a political ideology that seeks to apply Islamic principles to public policy. In practice, two kinds of ‘Islamic democracies’ can be recognized in Islamic countries. The basis of this distinction has to do with how comprehensively Islam is incorporated into the affairs of the state. Some religious values are incorporated into public life, but Islam is not the only source of law. States like Iran are firm proponents of this form. Not all of these states are recognized internationally as democratic under concepts of western liberal democracy. There are also states in the Muslim world which are secular democracies rather than religious democracies. This book marks an innovative and original contribution to the discourses of human rights theory, practice, and advocacy; Islamic law; Islamic studies; women’s rights, gender studies; and fieldwork methodology. It is an invaluable resource for scholars, rights activists and advocates, NGOs, policymakers, and anyone with an interest in issues of Islam and human rights. Taukir Ahmed is a contemporary Islamic scholar, teacher, speaker, and author. He has served on the Fiqh Council of North America, the pre-eminent Islamic law body on the continent. He has served as Imam and resident scholar at various institutions in America.