 Although there is no penalty for converting from another religion to Islam, converting from Islam to another religion is punishable by imprisonment or death in the north; however, a death sentence for apostasy has never been carried out by the current government.The government supports Islam by providing funds for mosque construction throughout the north; it also exerts influence over the established Muslim hierarchy by retaining the right to appoint and dismiss imams in most northern mosques.Blasphemy and defaming religion are punishable by imprisonment in the north, although these restrictions are rarely enforced.