Freedom of Expression: Secular Theocracy Versus Liberal Democracy, compiled and edited by Sita Ram Goel, documents the legal and political struggles over free speech in India when it comes to critical examination of Islam and Christianity.

Section I: Secular Theocracy

Documents cases where the Indian state, under pressure from Muslim and Christian groups, suppressed or punished critical scholarship:

  1. The Case of Inder Sain Sharma — Prosecution for writing on Islam
  2. The Case of Sita Ram Goel — Goel’s arrest for publishing critical material
  3. The Case of Surya Kant Bali
  4. The Case of Sachchidanand Sakshi
  5. The Case of Sadhvi Ritambhara
  6. Islam Imposes an Emergency on India — Analysis of how Islamic pressure groups enforce censorship
  7. Statement of Intellectuals in protest against Goel’s arrest
  8. Arrest of Sita Ram Goel resented — Media coverage
  9. Editor’s arrest over Islamic study flayed
  10. Fomenting Reaction by Arun Shourie
  11. The Point We Always Evade by Arun Shourie
  12. Swords to Sell a God by Ram Swarup
  13. Statement by Indian intellectuals against Syed Shahabuddin’s attempt to ban Ram Swarup’s Hindu View of Christianity and Islam
  14. How Should We Respond? by Arun Shourie
  15. Ban This Book by Koenraad Elst

Section II: Liberal Democracy

Includes international coverage and statements of support:

  • Courageous author puts his life on the line
  • Standing up to scrutinise Islam

Central Issue

The book argues that “secularism” in India has created a system of selective censorship: criticism of Hindu practices is permitted and even encouraged, but criticism of Islam and Christianity is met with legal prosecution, threats of violence, and political pressure. This creates a “secular theocracy” where blasphemy laws are effectively enforced against those who criticise the privileged religions, while Hinduism remains an open target.

See Also