Pakistani Court Upholds Death Sentence for Christian Woman Accused of Insulting Islam

FOX NEWS: Asia Bibi was harvesting berries in Pakistan five years ago when she took the drink of water that could cost her her life.

A Christian in the Muslim-dominated and increasingly intolerant nation, the mother of five was quickly assailed by the other women working the field in a tiny village in the Punjab province. First they said they would not drink from the same water bucket as a Christian. Later, they told police Bibi had insulted the Muslim Prophet Mohammad. The crime, blasphemy, is punishable by death.

Bibi, who denies insulting Mohammad and maintains her co-workers falsely accused her, was convicted in 2010. Last week, despite an international outcry, a court in Lahore upheld the verdict and affirmed the sentence that Bibi be hanged. The 50-year-old has 30 days to appeal to the nation's highest court.

“This is a grave injustice,” said David Griffiths, Amnesty International’s deputy Asia Pacific director. “Asia Bibi should never have been convicted in the first place – still less sentenced to death – and the fact that she could pay with her life for an argument is sickening.” » | Lisa Daftari | Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Turkish-Armenian Journalist to Face Trial for Insulting Prophet Mohammed
NEWS.AZ: A Turkey-based Armenian journalist is going to face a court proceeding for using an insulting remark against Prophet Mohammed on his personal website.

According to the Turkish-Armenian publication Agos, the complaint against Sevan Nishanyan has been filed by 15 Turkish citizens.

The court has approved a seven-page bill of indictment prepared during the inquest but Nishanyan won’t reportedly admit the accusations despite being declared a suspect. If found guilty, he will face 1.5 years in jail. » | Tert.am | Thursday, March 07, 2013

‘Abuse Cannot Harm Islam, Prophet’
ARAB TIMES: KUWAIT CITY, Feb 18, (KUNA): College of Sharia and Islamic Studies at Kuwait University has organized a conference entitled ‘Insulting Islam and its Sanctities’, within its role in the government program to highlight moderation of Islam, fighting extremism as well as its role in enlightening and informing the Muslim community through studying the phenomenon of insulting Islam and its sanctities.

College Dean Dr Mubarak Al-Hajri recalled in his speech at the conference the numerous cases in which Islam and its sanctities were defamed and insulted as well as Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

“We know for sure that these abuses cannot harm our religion, our Prophet and our holy places as it has been proven throughout history that Islam spreads quickly when its enemies start defaming or insulting the faith”. » | Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Urteil in Ägypten: Sechs Jahre Haft wegen Beleidigung des Islam
RP ONLINE: Kairo (RPO). Ein Strafgericht in Ägypten hat einen Christen wegen "Beleidigung des Propheten Mohammed und Geringschätzung der Religion" zu sechs Jahren Haft verurteilt. Das wurde am Donnerstag aus Sicherheitskreisen in Kairo bekannt.

Die Staatsanwaltschaft hatte dem Lehrer vorgeworfen, mit seinem Verhalten Spannungen zwischen Christen und Muslimen geschürt zu haben. Dieser Auffassung schloss sich der Richter an. Gegen das Urteil kann den Angaben zufolge binnen 40 Tagen Berufung eingelegt werden. » | Donnerstag, 01. März 2012

Penn Judge: Muslims Allowed to Attack People for Insulting Mohammad
YAHOO! NEWS – COMMENTARY: Jonathon Turley, a law professor at George Washington University, reports on a disturbing case in which a state judge in Pennsylvania threw out an assault case involving a Muslim attacking an atheist for insulting the Prophet Muhammad.

Judge Mark Martin, an Iraq war veteran and a convert to Islam, threw the case out in what appears to be an invocation of Sharia law.

The incident occurred at the Mechanicsburg, Pa., Halloween parade where Ernie Perce, an atheist activist, marched as a zombie Muhammad. Talaag Elbayomy, a Muslim, attacked Perce, and he was arrested by police.

Judge Martin threw the case out on the grounds that Elbayomy was obligated to attack Perce because of his culture and religion. Judge Martin stated that the First Amendment of the Constitution does not permit people to provoke other people. He also called Perce, the plaintiff in the case, a "doofus." In effect, Perce was the perpetrator of the assault, in Judge Martin's view, and Elbayomy the innocent. The Sharia law that the Muslim attacker followed trumped the First Amendment.

Words almost fail. » | Mark Whittington | Yahoo! Contributor Newtwork | Friday, February 24, 2012

Worshippers Want Kashgari Punished
ARAB NEWS: MAKKAH: Imams of mosques in Makkah were unanimous in their Friday sermons on the necessity of bringing Saudi columnist and writer Hamza Kashgari to justice for making insulting comments about the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) on Twitter.

Kashgari fled to Malasyia after realizing that the deletion of his slanderous comments and the repentance he had announced in his tweets were not enough to save his neck. He was arrested on arrival at Kuala Lumpur airport on Thursday.

Worshippers, many of them in tears, were in agreement with their imams calling for bringing Kashgari to justice for his blasphemous tweets about the Prophet, local daily Al-Eqtisadiah reported Saturday. The article said the worshippers expressed happiness over the government's move to arrest the blogger and bring him to justice.

The Malaysian police confirmed the arrest of Kashgari as part of an Interpol operation under the request of Saudi Arabia but did not disclose if he would be extradited to his country.

The imams and the worshipers strongly denounced the slanderous comments against the Prophet and said anyone who dared to badmouth the Prophet should be severely punished to deter others from doing the same.

Some of the imams dedicated their entire Friday sermon to attacking the blogger and calling for his trial, while others strongly warned against insulting the Prophet in words or deeds. Some of the imams were not able to hold back their tears while defending the Prophet, recalling verses from the Qur'an warning against attacking Allah or His Prophet.

"The unison between the imams and the worship[p]ers against this heinous act is a crystal-clear indication that attacking the Prophet is a red line no one should cross or come close to," a worship[p]er said. He did not want to be identified.

A number of worship[p]ers said they were determined to file lawsuits against Kashgari in Shariah courts calling for his execution on charges of apostasy. » | Arab News | Sunday, February 12, 2012

Related »

Saudi Blogger Faces Trial for Apostasy

VOICE OF AMERICA: Saudi newspaper Arab News says a Saudi blogger accused of apostasy has been detained on arrival in Riyadh after being deported from Malaysia, where he fled last week.

Hamza Kashgari caused an outcry among devout Saudis earlier this month, when he used his Twitter account to post thoughts about the Prophet Muhammad they deemed insulting to Islam.

The comments by the 23-year-old columnist for Jeddah-based newspaper al-Bilad triggered tens of thousands of Twitter responses, many from enraged Saudis calling for his death.

Kashgari quickly apologized and deleted his Twitter account, but fled the country last Tuesday as the outrage grew.

A day later, a committee of senior Saudi clerics appointed by the king declared Kashgari to be an apostate - a crime punishable by death - and called for him to be put on trial. » | Michael Lipin | Washington | Monday, February 13, 2012

Malaysia Arrests Saudi Blogger Over Tweets

AL JAZEERA ENGLISH: Hamza Kashgari detained after apparently fleeing kingdom after being accused of insulting Prophet Muhammad on Twitter.

A Saudi blogger who caused outrage in the Gulf kingdom with comments on twitter [sic] deemed insulting to the Prophet Muhammad, has been arrested by Malaysian police after fleeing Saudi Arabia following calls for his execution.

Hamza Kashgari was headed to New Zealand where he hoped to gain political asylum when he was arrested upon arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Thursday.

A police spokesman confirmed to the Reuters news agency that Malaysian police had detained the 23-year-old columnist.

"This arrest was part of an Interpol operation which the Malaysian police were a part of," said the spokesman.

State news agency Bernama said Kashgari was arrested in the Muslim-majority nation "for allegedly insulting Islam and the Prophet Mohammed."

No further details were provided on whether the writer from the western city of Jeddah would be extradited to Saudi Arabia.

An official with the Malaysian home ministry who asked to remain unidentified told the AFP news agency that though Malaysia and Saudi Arabia have no formal extradition treaties, Kashgari could be extradited under other bilateral security agreements.

Clerics and locals in the kingdom have called for Kashgari's death for three comments he made on the micro-blogging service on the occasion of the Prophet Muhammad's birthday.

"On your birthday, I find you wherever I turn. I will say that I have loved aspects of you, hated others, and could not understand many more," read one tweet posted on Saturday.

All three tweets were later deleted by Kashgari, who received over 30,000 responses within a day of the postings. » | Source: Al Jazeera and agencies | Friday, February 10, 2012


Related »

Le blasphème qui tue

CYBERPRESSE.CA: (Pakistan) Au Pakistan, personne ne peut offenser le Prophète sans risquer la prison. Cette loi sur le blasphème divise le pays depuis qu'Asia Bibi, illettrée, a été condamnée à mort parce qu'elle a insulté le Prophète. D'un côté, des militants extrémistes prêts à tout pour qu'elle soit pendue, de l'autre, des politiciens assassinés parce qu'ils ont osé la défendre. Au milieu, un gouvernement paralysé qui ne sait plus comment désamorcer la crise. La Presse a enquêté sur le terrain. Histoire d'une bombe à retardement.

Asia Bibi avait 38 ans lorsque sa vie est devenue un cauchemar.

Le 14 juin 2009, elle travaillait dans le champ avec trois femmes. Asia est chrétienne, les femmes, musulmanes.

Elles se chicanaient parfois, mais elles finissaient toujours par se réconcilier. Elles vivaient à Ittanwalli, village pauvre perdu au milieu des champs. La route de terre est craquelée par le soleil, des ânes tirent des charrettes et des chiens dorment au milieu du chemin, tourmentés par les mouches. À Ittanwalli, le temps est suspendu.

En juin, le thermomètre frôle les 50 degrés. Asia travaillait, écrasée par la chaleur. Les femmes avaient soif, elles ont bu de l'eau. Asia a touché leur verre et bu à son tour. C'est à ce moment précis que tout a basculé. Ce geste inoffensif -une chrétienne qui touche l'eau d'une musulmane- a plongé le Pakistan dans une grave crise politico-religieuse.

Les musulmanes ont accusé Asia Bibi d'avoir souillé leur eau. Les femmes se sont chicanées, le ton a monté, Asia s'est énervée et elle a insulté l'islam et le prophète Mahomet. » | Michèle Ouimet, envoyée spéciale, La Presse | Lundi 30 Mai 2011

After His Hand Was Chopped Off, Kerala College Sacks Lecturer
THE TIMES OF INDIA: KOCHI – Adding insult to injury, a Kerala college has sacked its lecturer whose right hand was chopped off by activists of radical outfit PFI for preparing a controversial Malayalam question paper with alleged derogatory references to Prophet Muhammad.

The management of the Christian-run New Man College has informed T J Joseph that he had been removed from September 1 on the grounds that he had hurt religious sentiments, college sources said on Saturday.

Joseph reacted with shock to his dismissal saying it was an "unexpected blow" to him and his family while Education Minister M A Baby regretted the management action calling it an "extreme and irrationally negative" step.

The Popular Front of India activists had hacked the right hand of Joseph on July 4 when he was returning home with his family from a Church. 30 persons have been arrested so far in connection with the gruesome attack which shocked the country. >>> PTI | Saturday, September 04, 2010

HERALD SUN: Indian teacher's hand cut off for alleged Muhammad slight: TWO Indian men have been arrested over an attack on a college teacher who had his hand cut off for setting an exam question that allegedly insulted Muslims. >>> NewsCore | Tuesday, July 06, 2010

Bahrain: Teacher ‘Insulted Islam’
GULF DAILY NEWS: MANAMA: An American woman was referred to the court yesterday by the Public Prosecution after being charged with insulting the Prophet Mohammed.

The woman, who works as a teacher at a private university in Bahrain, was said to have been reported to the university management by a student, who claimed that she had shown them pictures depicting the Prophet Mohammed improperly dressed.

"The teacher was made to apologise to the students but was told to have insulted the girl who had reported her to the management instead," said a Public Prosecution spokesman. [Source: GULF DAILY NEWS] | September 12, 2008

ASSOCIATED PRESS:
Bahrain Charges US Teacher with Insulting Prophet >>> | September 12, 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Paperback – USA)
The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Hardcover – USA)

Purported Bomber Warns Denmark of More Attacks
"Stern action must be taken against those who insult and belittle Islam to prevent others from doing the same[.]" - Datuk Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi - Malaysia
ASSOCIATED PRESS: CAIRO, Egypt (AP) — A new al-Qaida video identifies the Saudi purportedly behind a suicide bombing at the Danish Embassy in Pakistan, and he is shown warning in a taped last testament that more attacks will punish Denmark over newspaper caricatures of Islam's founder.

In the 55-minute video posted on the Internet late Thursday, the alleged bomber is referred to both by a nom de guerre, Abu Ghareeb al-Makki, and by his real name, Kamal Saleem Atiyyah al-Fudli al-Hathli. He appears in an explosives vest as he recounts his plan for the attack.

"As for my final message to the worshippers of the cross in Denmark, I tell them, Allah permitting, this isn't the first nor the last retaliation," al-Makki says. "We will wipe you from the face of the Earth." Purported Bomber Warns Denmark of More Attacks >>> By Katarina Kratovac | September 5, 2008

THE NEW YORK TIMES:
Al Qaeda Repeats Threat to Danes: DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Al Qaeda issued a new threat against Denmark in an Internet video released Friday, saying that an attack on the Danish Embassy in Pakistan in June was only the beginning of its retaliation for perceived insults to the Prophet Muhammad >>> By Reuters | September 5, 2008

TVNZ.CO.NZ:
Video vows more Denmark attacks: Al Qaeda has issued new threats against Denmark in an internet video released on Friday, saying an attack on the Danish embassy in Pakistan was the start of its retaliation for perceived insults to the Prophet Mohammad.
The internet video featured senior al Qaeda leader Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, who was reported to have been killed last month. The compilation was dated August 2008, although it was made up of segments recorded at various dates >>> | September 6, 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Paperback – Denmark) >>>

Saudi Arabien: Todesstrafe gegen Türken wegen Gotteslästerung
WELTONLINE: Ein Wutanfall in Saudi-Arabien könnte einem türkischen Friseur das Leben kosten. Nach einem Streit war er ausgerastet und hatte über Gott und den Propheten Mohammed geschimpft. Zwei Zeugen zeigten ihn wegen Blasphemie an. Ein Gericht verurteilte den 31-jährigen Handwerker zum Tod durch das Schwert.

In Saudi-Arabien sitzt ein türkischer Friseur in der Todeszelle, weil er in einem Wutanfall auf Gott und den Propheten Mohammed geschimpft hat. Die Zeitung „Arab News“ berichtete, ein Berufungsgericht in der Stadt Mekka werde kommende Woche über den Fall von Sabri Bogday (31) entscheiden, der Ende März von einem Gericht in Dschidda wegen Gotteslästerung zum Tod durch das Schwert verurteilt worden war. Ein ägyptischer Schneider und ein saudischer Zeuge hatten ihn, nachdem er mit dem Ägypter gestritten hatte, wegen Blasphemie angezeigt.

Die Zeitung berichtete, Bogday habe während einer ersten Anhörung vor Gericht zugegeben, in seinem Friseursalon geflucht und dabei Gott und den Propheten beleidigt zu haben. Später soll er dies jedoch bestritten haben.

Der türkische Friseur, der seit 13 Monaten im Gefängnis sitzt, lebt bereits seit elf Jahren in Saudi-Arabien. Seine Frau erklärte gegenüber türkischen Medien, ihr Ehemann kenne die Gesetze des islamischen Königreiches sehr genau. Er hätte deshalb niemals in der Öffentlichkeit auf Gott geschimpft. Der ägyptische Schneider, der nicht vor Gericht erschienen sei, habe gelogen, erklärte sie. Das türkische Außenministerium hatte in der vergangenen Woche erklärt, es kümmere sich um den Fall des Friseurs.

In Saudi-Arabien wurden im vergangenen Jahr 143 Menschen auf Geheiß eines Richters enthauptet. Die Todesstrafe wird in dem islamischen Land meist wegen Mordes oder Drogenschmuggels verhängt. [Quelle: Todesstrafe gegen Türken wegen Gotteslästerung]

ARAB NEWS:
Blasphemy Case Moves to Appeals Court: No chance of a pardon because the ruling was “hadd” (based on Qur’an and Sunnah) >>> By Ebtihal Mubarak

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Taschenbuch)
The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Gebundene Ausgabe)