Objective: To foster adherence to international human rights standards, as well as to promote constitutional and legal norms in all regions of the world.

Commitment: Georgetown University Law Center, through its Human Rights Institute, will conduct a study of human rights guarantees (in text as well as in practice) in constitutions of predominantly Muslim countries, with a special focus on the treatment of freedom of religion or belief and the ramifications in practice of the status of Islam in constitutional law. Georgetown University Law Center will provide the necessary personnel and resources to complete the study.

Background: During the drafting processes for the Afghan and Iraqi constitutions, it was commonly asserted that protection of human rights and other norms guaranteed by the universal legal instruments may be "un-Islamic." In fact, many Muslim-dominated countries have constitutional language that compares favorably with international standards, as concluded by a survey of constitutional texts conducted by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. Yet there is no comprehensive analysis of how the constitutional text accords with judicial and legal practice and translates into protections of freedom of religion or beliefs and related human rights in predominantly Muslim countries. Such an analysis would be an important contribution to the ongoing international debate on political and legal reform in the Muslim world.

Partnership Opportunity: Due to outstanding funding needs, estimated at $250,000, the scope of the study has yet to be determined. Any partnership offers to support this project and enhance its scope are welcome.

Update:
December 2005:
Work on the substance of the project has commenced, led by Professors Mark Tushnet and Vicki Jackson, both leading experts in constitutional law at Georgetown Law Center.