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The former Soviet Central Asian republic of Tajikistan has witnessed a conflictual political and social transformation after 1991 leading to a devastating civil war between 1992 and 1997. After the civil war, international efforts of liberal peacebuilding and post-conflict rehabilitation allowed a domestic détente, in which political and, importantly, religious pluralism could flourish unprecedently for the standards of the country. Still, this form of pluralism did not meet the ideal standards of covenantal pluralism as such. In the past decade, moreover, Tajikistan has gradually turned into a consolidated autocracy in which even formal pluralism is suspended. Authoritarian governance, especially in the sphere of religion, has aggravated societal divides and undermined social cohesion in the country. Although the short-term prospects for pluralism in general and covenantal pluralism in particular are dim, a differentiated perspective on the ideal of covenantal pluralism in the longue durée might provide possible starting points for meaningful engagement in Tajikistan bridging religious, societal, and political divides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaders of Indonesia's Nahdlatul Ulama, the world's largest Muslim organization, are working to consolidate South and Southeast Asia as an alternate pillar of support for a rules-based international order founded upon respect for the equal rights and dignity of every human being. Integral to this effort is a regional strategy called the "Ashoka Approach," which seeks to reawaken the ancient spiritual, cultural, and socio-political heritage of the Indianized cultural sphere, or "Indosphere"—a civilizational zone that pioneered, long before the West, key concepts and practices of religious pluralism and tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Political leaders need to recognize that religion remains a powerful force shaping the world around us. As globalization pushes the world together it becomes more urgent to find ways for people of different faiths (or no faith) to coexist peacefully. The honoring of religious minority rights and a healthy religious pluralism are core aspects of democracy and key priorities of the open-minded. People of faith must have the right to speak out on issues that concern them and in the name of beliefs derived from faith. At the same time, religious voices cannot predominate in democracies that preserve equal rights for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early Islam acknowledged religious diversity and offered protections for people of other religions. As Islam's political and cultural influence grew, the concepts of apostasy, blasphemy, heresy, hypocrisy, and unbelief emerged to suppress dissent. Today, there are no universally agreed upon definitions of these terms, and laws against apostasy and blasphemy are used to suppress religious dissent, thwart political opposition, harass intellectuals, and incite acts of violence. Scholars who propose reforms may be imprisoned, exiled, or killed. Muslims in Muslim-majority states need to rethink laws that criminalize dissent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Religious believers should embrace a robust understanding of pluralism, acknowledging deep differences between religions but also teaching mutual respect and seeking common agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]