Book Launch -Sharia and the State in Pakistan: Blasphemy Politics

This event marks the launch of a new book by former Wilson Center fellow Farhat Haq. Sharia and the State analyzes the formulation, interpretation, and implementation of sharia in Pakistan and its relationship with the Pakistani state. It draws on insights from Islamic studies, anthropology, and legal studies to examine the interactions between ideas, institutions, and political actors that have enabled blasphemy laws to become a source of continuous controversy. Sharia and the State presents the transformation of sharia from a pluralistic religious precept to a set of rigid laws. Using new materials, including government documents and Urdu-language newspapers, Dr. Haq contextualizes the larger political debate within Pakistan. She also utilizes a comparative and historical framework to weave descriptions of various events with discussions on sharia and blasphemy.