The Legacy of Blasphemy Laws in Southeast Asia

USCIRF Spotlight Podcast

Seven out of ten members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) nations have blasphemy laws currently enshrined in their legal codes. USCIRF’s recent issue update reviews these blasphemy laws and their enforcement within this region and highlights recent cases and provides analysis on related laws. Blasphemy is defined as “the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God or sacred things.” In particular, blasphemy laws remain an ongoing religious freedom violation in Indonesia and Malaysia as well as a potent tool for authoritarian and right-wing forces in Burma and Thailand. While many such laws are a legacy of colonialism, some countries in the region have expanded their legal restrictions in the subsequent decades since independence.

USCIRF Policy Analyst, Patrick Greenwalt, joins Director of Research and Policy, Elizabeth Cassidy, to discuss this recent report and take a deeper dive into the background and present context of these blasphemy laws.

Read USCIRF's report on Blasphemy and Related Laws in ASEAN Member Countries.

With Contributions from:

Elizabeth Cassidy, Director of Research and Policy, USCIRF

Patrick Greenwalt, Policy Analyst, USCIRF

Veronica McCarthy, Public Affairs Associate, USCIRF