Report: Syrian Blasphemy Numbers on the Rise

An investigative report conducted by the Al-Hudood team—set to be published unless deemed politically sensitive by Qatar’s leadership—has found that hundreds of thousands of Sunni Syrian citizens curse religious figures daily. These include prophets, messengers, deities, and references to heavens in at least three religions. 

The investigation found that 3.5% of Sunni Syrians begin their day with blasphemous language due to power outages. An additional 5.6% end their day in similar fashion due to lack of security. A further 11% lapse into sacrilege intermittently, citing general living conditions as the cause. Punishments meted out have been largely symbolic: two slaps, a karate-chop to the back of the neck, a round of halal-approved scolding, and a compulsory haircut, all administered before release, often accompanied by the famously syrupy smile of the local sheikh.

“I get it,” said one sheikh, speaking anonymously. “Living like this, it can be tempting.”