Crime and Punishment in Islamic Law: Theory and Practice from the Sixteenth to the Twenty-First Century (Themes in Islamic Law, Series Number 2)

Rudolph Peters' book, first published in 2006, is about crimes and their punishments as laid down in Islamic law. In recent years some of the more fundamentalist regimes, such as those of Iran, Pakistan, Sudan and the northern states of Nigeria have reintroduced Islamic law in place of western criminal codes. Peters gives a detailed account of the classical doctrine and traces the enforcement of criminal law from the Ottoman period to the present day. The accounts of actual cases which range from theft, banditry, murder, fornication and apostasy shed light on the complexities of the law, and the sensitivity and perspicacity of the qadis who implemented it. This is the first single-authored account of both the theory and practice of Islamic criminal law. It will be invaluable for students, and scholars in the field, as well as for professionals looking for comprehensive coverage of the topic. Rudolph Peters' Book Is About Crimes And Their Punishments As Laid Down In Islamic Law. In Recent Years Some Islamist Regimes, Such As Those Of Iran, Pakistan, Sudan And The Northern States Of Nigeria Have Reintroduced Islamic Law In Place Of Western Criminal Codes. This Was After The Abolition Of Islamic Criminal Law In The Nineteenth And Twentieth Centuries. Previously, During The Pre-modern Period, Islamic Criminal Law Was Applied Across The Muslim World And There Are Many Examples Of That Application In The Abundant Archives And Other Sources Of The Period. Peters Gives A Detailed Account Of The Classical Doctrine And Traces The Enforcement Of Criminal Law From The Ottoman Period To The Present Day. The Accounts Of Actual Cases Which Range From Theft To Banditry, Murder, Fornication And Apostasy Shed Light On The Complexities Of The Law, And The Sensitivity And Perspicacity Of The Qadis Who Implemented It. This Is The First Single-authored Account Of Both The Theory And Practice Of Islamic Criminal Law. It Will Be Invaluable For Students, And Scholars In The Field, As Well As For Professionals Looking For A Comprehensive Coverage Of The Topic.--jacket. Introduction -- The Classical Doctrine -- The Implementation Of Islamic Criminal Law In The Pre-modern Period : The Ottoman Empire -- The Eclipse Of Islamic Criminal Law -- Islamic Criminal Law Today -- Conclusion. Rudolph Peters. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 197-207) And Index. "Rudolph Peters' book is about crimes and their punishments as laid down in Islamic law. In recent years some Islamist regimes, such as those of Iran, Pakistan, Sudan and the northern states of Nigeria have reintroduced Islamic law in place of Western criminal codes. This was after the abolition of Islamic criminal law in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Previously, during the pre-modern period, Islamic criminal law was applied across the Muslim world and there are many examples of that application in the abundant archives and other sources of the period. Peters gives a detailed account of the classical doctrine and traces the enforcement of criminal law from the Ottoman period to the present day. The accounts of actual cases which range from theft to banditry, murder, fornication and apostasy shed light on the complexities of the law, and the sensitivity and perspicacity of the qadis who implemented it. This is the first single-authored account of both the theory and practice of Islamic criminal law. It will be invaluable for students, and scholars in the field, as well as for professionals looking for a comprehensive coverage of the topic." --Book Jacket In recent years some of the more fundamentalist regimes in the developing world (such as those of Iran, Pakistan, Sudan and the northern states of Nigeria) have reintroduced Islamic law in place of western criminal codes. Rudolph Peters presents a detailed account of the classical doctrine and traces the enforcement of criminal law from the Ottoman period to the present day. Accounts of actual cases, ranging from theft and banditry to murder, fornication and apostasy, shed light on the complexities of the law, and the sensitivity and intelligence of the qadis who implemented it. This book deals with criminal or penal law (I will use both terms indiscriminately), the body of law that regulates the power of the state to inflict punishment, i.e. suffering, on persons in order to enforce compliance with certain rules.