Is apostasy illegal in Sri Lanka?
Criminal offense
Rishvin Ismath faced death threats for speaking out against textbooks that claim apostates from Islam should be killed, indicating social and legal pressure against leaving Islam.
Sri Lanka is one of 15 countries classified “Criminal offense” for apostasy — 50% of the 30 with data. (Also searched as leaving a religion.)
Source
- Taken from
- Wikipedia: Apostasy in Islam by country
- Last checked
- 7 July 2026
- How it was classified
- Classified by a language model from the source text, then checked against hand-verified reference countries.
Nearby countries
- Maldives
- Death penalty possible Maldives revived death penalty for apostasy under new regulations, though it was abolished in 1953.
- Bangladesh
- Criminal offense While Bangladesh has no formal law against apostasy, there have been instances of persecution and violence against those who leave Islam, including targeted killings.
- Pakistan
- Criminal offense Apostasy is illegal in Pakistan and can lead to serious criminal charges under blasphemy laws, with no specific law against apostasy but effective prosecution through existing laws.
- Oman
- Criminal offense Oman's Personal Status Law annuls marriage and denies inheritance rights for Muslim apostates.
- Afghanistan
- Death penalty possible Apostasy in Afghanistan is punishable by death under Hanafi Sunni jurisprudence, with no legal protection for those leaving Islam.
- United Arab Emirates
- Death penalty possible Apostasy is punishable by death in the UAE under Sharia law, with hudud crimes including apostasy requiring the death penalty according to their Penal Code.
Other laws in Sri Lanka
- Holocaust Denial
- No specific law
- Conversion Therapy
- Partial ban
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.