Abstract: This article focuses on the work of two international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, and their impact on the effectiveness of the human rights movement. It presents at typology of methods currently used by INGOs when they encounter Shari'a law, demonstrating through an analysis of their work in this area that they fail to engage with Islamic Law and, instead, offer a first-line of defense to charges of anti-Muslim bias, neo-imperialism, and insensitivity toward Muslim culture. The author calls on INGOs to acknowledge the uncomfortable realities of their current position and consider new ways of engaging with Islamic Law.