Early version. Transcripts and tags are labelled by accuracy tier. A position is shown only after two independent reviews have found it in his own words.
Mufti Abu Layth ArchiveBeta

Research › Current events and society

Blasphemy, insult and free speech

24 answers in 8 recordings, 2019 to 2024. 13 with a checked position in his own words.

Indexed so far: 259 of 1,859 recordings (1,904 answers, 2014 to 2025). Anything below may change as the rest are indexed. Limits of the data

Thought Evolution

2019answers checked positions2024

Oldest first. A checked position shows what he holds, then the sentence he says, word for word from the transcript, with its moment. Years without one list the answers that have not been checked yet. Recordings not yet indexed may hold more.

  1. 20191 answer · 1 checked

    · Final thoughts: mental health, persecution, free speech and the victim card

    Mufti Abu Layth condemns any persecution of Ahmadis but holds that criticising their beliefs is free speech, not persecution, and that not declaring them Muslims does not add to their persecution.

    “i don't justify and i condem any persecution of them i condemn that but i'm being honest look just playing the victim card all the time it's just nonsense”

    36:38TranscriptCite 2019-01-15-S06corrected

  2. 20208 answers · 6 checked

    · Should Muslims boycott France over the cartoons?

    Mufti Abu Layth says that individuals may publish such cartoons as their right, but governments should not get involved in these things.

    “I get the fact if some people want to do it it's fine fine, you know, it's their right, but governments shouldn't get involved in these things.”

    2:00:24TranscriptCite 2020-10-27-S17corrected

    · How should Muslims respond to cartoons of the Prophet?

    Mufti Abu Layth says that if people want to draw cartoons of the Prophet, Muslims should just ignore it.

    “people have the right to critique to criticize religion if if certain people want to draw cartoons of the prophet we should just ignore it”

    0:39TranscriptCite 2020-10-29-S01corrected

    3 more checked positions in 2020

    · Was it right for the French government to display the cartoons?

    Mufti Abu Layth says governments should not get involved in displaying such cartoons, since they are there to represent all the people.

    “it's fine you know it's their right but government shouldn't get involved in these things this is not a government thing for the government to do it”

    7:09TranscriptCite 2020-10-29-S03corrected

    · Do I have to boycott French products?

    Mufti Abu Layth says that if a Muslim does not boycott France, they should not be guilt-tripped, since it is a personal choice.

    “if somebody doesn't boycott france i don't think they should be guilt-tripped i don't think you should kill trip”

    9:44TranscriptCite 2020-10-29-S04corrected

    2 answers not yet checked
  3. 20211 answer

    1 answer not yet checked
  4. 202211 answers · 4 checked

    · Does Islam allow attacking Salman Rushdie?

    Mufti Abu Layth condemns the attack on Salman Rushdie as cowardly and an abomination, saying Islam does not teach such acts and that those who speak against Islam must be answered with speech.

    “i want to first of all very clearly in categorical terms condemn this attack for the cowardice and the abomination that it is okay islam does not teach anybody to do things like this”

    0:01TranscriptCite 2022-08-19-S01corrected

    · Is there a difference between criticising Islam and insulting it?

    Mufti Abu Layth says everyone has the right to criticise what they do not believe in, even if it offends, but that freedom to criticise is not freedom to insult, and every society sets some limits on speech.

    “every person i i firmly believe they have the right to criticize if they don't believe in something they have the right to criticize it even if it offends but there is a difference between just criticizing and insulting”

    28:05TranscriptCite 2022-08-19-S06corrected

    · Should all religions be free to compete without state backing?

    Mufti Abu Layth says nobody has the right to force religion on others and that people may criticise religions freely, but that analytical criticism differs from insult, which only aims to hurt.

    “people have the right to criticize things if you don't believe in something you have the right to criticize criticize it you have the right to show where it doesn't make sense”

    55:31TranscriptCite 2022-08-19-S11corrected

    1 more checked position in 2022

    · What does holding on to bitterness do to a person?

    Mufti Abu Layth says bitterness harboured against others destroys the one who carries it and hurts those closest to them, and he prays that God heals such hearts.

    “i tell you something about being bitter in life it never ends well”

    58:20TranscriptCite 2022-08-19-S12corrected

    7 answers not yet checked
  5. 20243 answers · 2 checked

    1 answer not yet checked

Sources cited on this topic

How many of these answers cite each (guest speech left out). Cited means named as evidence or discussed, not necessarily accepted: open the answers to see which.

Principles invoked

  1. freedom to criticise is not freedom to insult2

Views he quotes on this topic

These answers state a view in order to discuss it, often to reject it. They are never read as his position.

Discussed with

Cite a statement by its id: Mufti Abu Layth Archive, segment id, with the date and the address of its page. Citation formats