Beyond the Mosque Walls: Legal Constructions 'Apostasy' and 'Blasphemy' in Egypt's Public Sphere

Abstract

Apostasy, or the renunciation of belief, was criminalized in Egypt in the 1990's. What followed was a robust debate in the public sphere about the issue. This paper analyzes the Egyptian press to find substantial evidence that public debate is widespread, contrary to commonly-held assumptions about the Muslim world.