Saudi Woman To Get Flogged For Mistakenly Promoting Shia Islam Via Text

Muslims have no tolerance. Shiites hate Sunnis, Sunnis hate Shiites, they both hate the Ahmadis, Ishmailis and all the other Islamic sects that exist as offshoots of Islam. In countries that have a dominant sect as its ruling religion all others are persecuted, marginalized, and discriminated against. In Saudi Arabia, which promotes an ultra-conservative form of Sunni Islam "Wahhabism", you can get flogged for being a Shia Muslim. It's not allowed.

A Saudi woman has been sentenced to eight lashes by a court in Qatif for mistakenly sending a text message allegedly promoting the Shiite branch of Islam.

The 30-year-old woman, identified only as YH, has been pronounced guilty for sending an SMS to another Saudi woman, containing a group of telephone numbers under the name 'Shiite Islamic religious services'.

One phone number apparently led to Ayatollah Sistani, Iraq's most senior Shiite cleric who is renowned throughout the Gulf for his learned counsel on Islamic law.

The Saudi Arabian state is a staunch adherent to the Sunni branch of Islam, and publicly disparages the Shia sect. Shia Muslims are not allowed to practice their faith, or even profess their sectarian beliefs in private.

The act of calling people for Shiism, or openly advocating the Shia faith, has been pronounced as haram (forbidden and despicable in Arabic) by the Attorney General, who publicly demanded that YH be severely punished.

The sentence was eventually conferred by judge Davoud Mohammad al-Davoud, who, according to local sources, is an extremist sectarian with a history of harsh judgements.

Obviously the recipient of the text message tattled on this woman.

The woman contested but  lost.

If Muslims can't even respect fellow Muslims, how can we expect them to respect those of other faiths.

15 Years Jail For Egyptian Christian Convert and Her 7 Kids

In spite of Islam supposedly advocating 'no compulsion in religion', and Mohammed Morsi claiming that there should be respect for all religions, an Egyptian widow and her seven kids have been sentenced to 15 years in jail for converting to Christianity. The irony of it all is that she was originally Christian, married Mohamed Abdel-Wahhad Mustafa (a Muslim) 23 years ago, converted to Islam, and then when he passed away decided to convert back to Christianity so she could receive her Christian family's inheritance.

Not only did Nadia Mohamed Ali and her seven children receive prison sentences, so did the people in the registration office that helped her get new identity cards between 2004 and 2006.

Thanks to Mohammed Morsi, his oh-so tolerant Muslim Brotherhood, and the new constitution, things are only going to get worse.

Samuel Tadros, a research fellow at Hudson Institute's Center for Religious Freedom, said conversions like Nadia's have been common in the past, but said Egypt's new Sharia-based constitution "is a real disaster in terms of religion freedom.”

"The cases will increase in the future," Tadros said. "It will be much harder for people to return to Christianity."

[snip]

Tadros said the constitution limits the practice of Christianity because “religious freedom has to be understood within the boundaries of Sharia.” He added that the constitution prescribes that the highest Sunni authority should be referred to as an interpreter of the religion clause contained in the constitution.

Opponents of the constitution, including Coptic Christians and secular and liberal groups, protested at the time against passage of the document because of the mix of Islamic-based Sharia law and politics.

Jordan Sekulow of the American Center for Law and Justice said:

"Now that Sharia law has become an integral part of Egypt's new constitution, Christians in that country are at greater risk than ever. " "This is another tragic case that underscores the growing problem of religious intolerance in the Muslim world. To impose a prison sentence for a family because of their Christian faith sadly reveals the true agenda of this new government: Egypt has no respect for international law or religious liberty.” [snip]  

Sekulow urged U.S. diplomatic intervention in Egypt to promote religious freedom. Morsi is scheduled to meet with President Obama, possibly in March

”The U.S. State Department must play more of a role in discouraging this kind of persecution," Sekulow said. "The U.S. should not be an idle bystander. The U.S. provides more than $1 billion to Egypt each year. The State Department should speak out forcefully against this kind of religious persecution in Egypt.”

Diplomatic intervention won't do a damn thing to change religious persecution in Egypt or any other country that persecutes its minority religious population.

So Christians who are in the financial position to do so  will continue leaving Egypt, and those who aren't will continue to be persecuted, because that's what Islamists do so well.

Mali Islamist Militants Ban Secular Western Music

Muslim extremists are slowly taking over Africa. Northern Mali, home of the famed city of Timbuktu, struggled with an Islamic insurgency, and sadly lost. It is now run by Islamists and they're starting to establish Shariah law there. Women have already been forced to wear head scarves, and now the only music that will be allowed on the air waves must be religious in nature. Singing Quranic verses is okay, everything else is banned. That means no Lady Gaga or Justin Bieber allowed because Western non-Muslim lyrics are Satanic.

The spokesperson for the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), Oussama Ould Abdel Kader, said that:

“We, the mujahideen of Gao, Timbuktu and Kidal from now on refuse the broadcasting of all western music on radios on Islamic land."

“We have already spoken to people who own the radio stations. We no longer want Satan’s music. Instead there must be verses of the Koran. Western music is Satanic music.”

because

“sharia demands it.”

Although MUJAO only rules Gao, Kader was speaking on behalf of all the lovely al-Qaeda-linked jihadists including Ansar Dine that have overrun that region like rats since the March 22, 2012 military coup. Thanks to that coup, the Mali northerners' lives have changed, for the worse.

Besides banning smoking and drinking,and forcing women to wear hijab,

In recent weeks the Islamists have stepped up the application of sharia, stoning an unmarried couple to death and cutting off the hand of a thief.

They also systematically destroyed ancient treasures in Timbuktu, which happened to be Islamic.

Mali is headed the route of Somalia, at least the al-Shabaab run areas.

Very sad.

Indonesian Atheist Jailed For "Inciting religious hatred"

The 30-year-old West Sumatran atheist Alexander Aan, who was beaten up and jailed for writing "God doesn't exist" and posting Mohammad cartoons on his Facebook group page Ateis Minang, and was facing  a maximum of 5 years in jail, has finally been been sentenced.

Presiding judge Eka Prasetya Budi Dharma found Aan guilty of

“..deliberately spreading information inciting religious hatred and animosity."

“What he did has caused anxiety to the community and tarnished Islam.”

“Under the Electronic Information and Transactions law, we sentence him to prison for a length of two years and six months."

Initially, he was also charged with two other 'crimes'-  blasphemy and "persuading others to embrace atheism"- which could have netted him those 5 years. However, those charges were dropped, and prosecutors didn't get the 3 1/2 years they wanted.

Ironically, although not surprising, those who have attacked (and sometimes killed) Christians and Ahmadis (Muslim minority sect) have received far lighter sentences than Aan.

As I mentioned in my other post, Indonesia's freedom of religion is bogus.  These people need to get a life.

Salafists Destroy "Offensive" Art Work In Tunisia

Divine Creatures- offensive to Islamists in Tunisia

Instead of just ignoring something one might find offensive, the boorish, uncivilized Islamists want it outright banned or destroyed. And of course, their idea of offensive is often offensive in and of itself. An art exhibition/fair- The Printemps des Art Fair- in La Marsa, Tunisia was the latest target of their fanatical extremism. According to Luca Luccatini, the exhibit's director, four works in the exhibition were deemed "offensive to sacred values" by some Salafist oafs (two men, a woman in niqab and a lawyer) who showed up at the venue on Sunday and demanded they be removed.

When that didn't work someone broke into the gallery some time between Sunday night and Monday morning and destroyed some of the art works including some paintings (which they slashed) and an art installation which was removed and burned outdoors. A photograph was also apparently destroyed.

Luccatini had called the police after the first "aggressive" encounter- which included threats of returning-but that obviously was of no help, since they did, both to protest later that evening and then to destroy the work later on.

One of the 'offending' pieces was an art installation called "The Punching Ball" by Faten Gaddes. It's two punching bags, used in boxing, with a photo of a veiled woman and inscribed beneath the picture "I am a Christian woman." An obvious indictment against religious persecution. The abstract artwork above- "Divine Creatures"- was also found to be offensive, though no-one seems to know why. It's certainly not very appealing, but other than that, who knows. More than likely it was the title that they took umbrage with, since nothing is divine other than Mohammed and Allah. Or maybe it's the naked woman hidden amidst the mishmash of creatures.

A detailed account of the sequence of events can be found  in English on Tunisia Live here, and here. In French here.

After the initial encounter and before the vandalism occurred, the exhibit coordinators were able to galvanize fellow artists to counter Islamists who showed up in protest, and not surprisingly angry words were exchanged. And there has been criticism from both camps complaining about the other side's provocation. One Salafist, Mohamed Karim,  complained  about not being allowed to view the whole exhibition.

“I wanted to come to see for myself what was happening. I only saw a few pictures. They [supporters of the event] spoke a lot and I didn’t have a chance to see the other ateliers. They tried to provoke me, thank goodness I didn’t react."

And why should they let him? More importantly, why would he even want to view something he knows he would be offended by?!

Surprisingly, some feel the artists over-reacted, including a photographer who was at the event. Wijaya Mahouichi said,

“They are treating people unfairly. They are provoking people in front of the cameras.”

Well, I would too if it was my work or the work of my friends and people were threatening to destroy it.

Besides the destruction of art work, graffitti was found on the Abdallia Palace walls (where the event took place).

Freshly written messages in Arabic could be read including “Let God Be the Judge”, “Tunisia is an Islamic State, with the license of the Ministry of Culture, the Prophet of Allah gets insulted,” and “Hey you infidels, Ennahda, Tahryr and Salafist are brothers.”

Complaints have been filed, but no-one believes anything will happen since even the Culture Ministry, though claiming to support "freedom of creation", condemned some of the work as “all kinds of aggression against sacred values”. But what can one expect from an Islamist-led government.

To view some of the works, someone posted a video on a Facebook page. The video has the words  “Tomorrow all followers of Islam should rise in anger to defend Islam.”  There is also a list of all the artists that participated in the exhibit and photos of some of the supporters. Looks like some of the pieces might have hit a little too close to home, and those people will probably need to watch their backs.

As an artist and photographer the thought of anyone's work being destroyed infuriates me. No-one has the right to destroy another person's creative work. How dare they!

Bottom line, if you find something offensive turn the channel, turn the page or move on to the next painting. No-one is holding a gun to anyone’s head forcing them to view something they deem unsavory.

And they wonder why the West balks.

Egyptian Vice Police Arrest Belly Dancing TV Station Owner For Facilitating

When I think of Egypt I think of the Pyramids, the Nile and belly dancing. Belly dancing is a traditional, popular dance form that dates back to ancient Egypt, but it's becoming less so as the country spirals downward towards a far more conservative and less tolerant Islam.  Once an enjoyment for all, it has only been accessible (and legal) in high-end hotels and clubs. Then about a year ago Baligh Hamdy started ElTet, a satellite TV station that exclusively broadcast belly dancing for the masses, at least those with access to satellite TV. Apparently Hamdy produced the videos himself, filming the dancers in their colorful skimpy outfits undulating to live music, and would then send the files to partners in Jordan and Bahrain, They would then air those videos on the satellite TV station.  People could tune in 24/7 to watch, until some viewers filed a complaint, and now Hamdy finds himself sitting in jail facing charges on suspicion of "facilitating prostitution", "harming public decency", "inciting licentiousness" and "operating without a license". 

Facilitating prostitution?  Belly dancers are now considered prostitutes? 
Hamdy was arrested by vice police in his flat in Cairo, which subbed as his studio, and now awaits his fate.

What might have gotten Hamdy in trouble, more so than the dancing itself, were the sexual enhancement and "matchmaking" ads he was airing during the broadcasts. Whether they were your typical match.com-type ads or the "voulez-vous couchez avec moi" escort-type ads, no-one is saying. I can't even imagine how they would deal with the plethora of 'little blue pill' ads that air during dinner time on U.S. networks.  Not that I approve of those ads while young ones are eating their spaghettiOs.

But there are those in Egypt who are dreading what the Islamists in leadership will bring to the table, in terms of censorship. If it's this bad now, I can't begin to imagine what will happen in a few years.
Sources: al Arabiya,WCSC,

Death Fatwa For Iranian Rapper

What do 31-year-old Iranian rapper Shahin Najafi and Brit/Indian writer Salman Rushdie have in common?  They both have prices on their heads, and both death fatwas originated from Ayatollah's in Iran, that mecca of tolerance. 

Shahin, whose music is socio/political in nature, luckily now lives in Germany where he emigrated to in 2005. A social activist, he writes about everything from sexism to theocracy to censorship, but his latest song "Naghi" is what got him into deep trouble with Shi'ite cleric Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani of Qom. The lyrics skewer the 10th Imam 'Naghi' (aka Naqui) and Shia Muslims take great umbrage with anyone who offends their precious dead Imams, even the lesser known ones. But Golpayegani isn't the only one calling for Najafi's death, shia-online.ir is actually offering a $100,000 reward.  And those behind a campaign to have him hanged for apostasy (initiated by an Iranian news website Asr Emrous), want all Muslims (not just Shi'ites) to search for Najafi and "send him to hell."

Rushdie was forced into hiding for years, who knows if Najafi will be forced to do the same thing, or whether he will just thumb his nose at the mullah's- his songs certainly have done that.

The youtube video causing all the furor.

Another translation of the lyrics.

Tehran To Crack Down On Dress Code Violations

There are actually Muslim women (and their liberal tools) who claim banning them from wearing the hijab (Islamic veil)  is a violation of their rights. I wonder if they would feel the same way if they were actually forced to wear one, like in Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Prior to the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran, women were not forced to wear the veil. Once the mullahs took over all that changed. And though the dress code isn't as restrictive as Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan, Iran is ready for its annual crackdown on violations.

TEHRAN -- Tehran Police Chief Hossein Sajedinia says a new campaign to crack down on dress code violations has been launched in the Iranian capital.

Sajedinia was quoted by Iranian news agencies as saying that police will go after clothing manufacturers and companies that import dresses deemed inappropriate.

He said authorities also will pursue individuals who wear the clothing.

Thousands of Iranian citizens are detained and fined each year during the annual crackdown, usually launched in spring, which aims at enforcing an Islamic dress code.

Not that they don't fight back.



But this is what could happen to all the women in the Arab Spring countries that now have an Islamist majority leadership.

Libyans Desecrate Gravestones Of British Soldiers Over Afghanistan Quran Burnings

In retaliation for the few Qurans that were inadvertently burned in Afghanistan by U.S. soldiers, Libyan thugs purposely smashed and desecrated the gravestones of Jewish and Christian British (and Allied) soldiers in the Benghazi Military Cemetery. Yes, those same Libyans who we helped during the Arab Spring and who have consequently chosen the Islamist route for their country, are as disrespectful, intolerant and violent as their extremist Muslim brothers in Afghanistan, Pakistan and elsewhere.

Talk about gratitude.  What a waste of time.

Pakistani Extremists Call For Boycott Of Ahmadi Owned Juice Company

Shezan is a very popular brand in Pakistan.  The company manufactures everything from soft drinks and juice to ketchup, chutneys, pickles, and jams. Unfortunately, the founders are Ahmadiya  Muslims and Ahmadis are not well loved in Pakistan, or in any other Muslim-majority country for that matter.  Even though they are Muslims (or at least consider themselves to be) they are persecuted and marginalized because they are not the right kind of Muslim.  In fact, in several countries (including Pakistan) they are considered non-Muslims, and as a result they're often victims of violence. In June 2010 the Shezan factory in Lahore was bombed, and Ahmadiya mosques have been targets of suicide bombings in the past.  Now, Shezan is being hit by calls for a boycott of their products by two different groups: a student union at the University of Punjab, and the Lahore Bar Association.

Shezan has been around since 1964 and employs over 1,000 people. Ironically, most of the employees are not even Ahmadi, but that hasn't stopped other boycott efforts of both the company and companies that do business with Shezan.

The latest boycott at the university campus is thought to have been instigated by student members of Islami Jamiat Tulba, which is part of the extremist Jamaat-e-Islami organization.

As for those lawyers,

Media outlets in Pakistan cited Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali, the president of the LBA that around 100 members had unanimously supported the boycott, to be applied to all canteens and food outlets in the court complexes under the LBA’s jurisdiction. However, Zulfiqar Ali was quoted in other media reports several days later as saying the boycott would not be enacted until a vote was put to all members. He claims the association is made up of various factional movements, one of whom moved for a resolution on the ban in the last meeting. The group behind the motion goes by the name Khatm-i-Nabuwwat Lawyers’ Forum (KNLF).

The legal profession in Pakistan has become deeply politicized in recent years. The Lahore Bar Association in particular has been in the spotlight, as some of its’ member publicly celebrated Mumtaz Qadri, the body guard who assassinated Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer in January last year.

The more enlightened Pakistanis, however, have balked at the boycotts and have started their own support Shezan campaigns. They've also been highly critical of the lawyers and their bigotry. 

If these extremists can't even get along with fellow believers in Mohammad, how can they ever be expected to get along with the rest of us.

Persecuted Jews forced to leave Yemen

There are few Jews left in Yemen, and they're running scared. Not that there are many Jews in any Muslim-majority country, in spite of the fact that they pre-date Muslims in the Middle East. Of course, if the Palestinians and Ahmadinejad and the evil Mullahs have their way regarding Israel, there won't be any left in the Middle East at all.

According to historians Yemeni Jews are considered to be one of the oldest communities in the Arab world. It is thought that they wound up in Yemen some 2,500 years ago, pre-Islam, trading for King Solomon.  For the most part they have lived peacefully in Yemen for centuries, until 1947 when dozens of Jews were killed and their homes and shops were destroyed as a backlash to the creation of the state of Israel. So, from 1949 to 1950 most of the Yemeni Jewish population (over 49,000) were sent to Israel to escape the violence. Some 2,000 opted to remain, understandably so, since this had been their home for centuries. Then again in the early 1990s another 1,200 or so left, mostly to Israel, after decades of not being allowed to leave the country. Several hundred stayed behind, by choice.

Fast forward to 2004- persecution of Jews by a rebel Shiite group (Al Houthis) increased in Saada, one of the 2 remote areas of Yemen where Jews lived. In 2007 they were actually threatened by the Houthis,

"We warn you to leave the area immediately... [W]e give you a period of 10 days, or you will regret it," read a letter signed by a Al Houthi representative cited in a Reuters article.

So all 60 of the Jews from Saada fled to the capital where former President Ali Abdullah Saleh took care of them. Meanwhile, the Jews in Raida (the last Jewish enclave) lived in relative peace until December 2008 when a retired air force pilot (Abdul-Aziz al-Abdi) shot a prominent Jew, Moshe Nahari, because he refused to convert to Islam. The violence against Jews escalated when Israel mounted their offensive in Gaza towards the end of December 2008, with men and children being beaten and pelted with rocks. And even though these were not Israelis or Zionists, these were Jews who wanted to remain in Yemen, they were still harassed and persecuted until they were forced to leave. What I find interesting is that the Jews in Raida lived very similar pious, religious lives as their Muslim neighbours. In fact, Jewish women, like their Muslim sisters, rarely appeared in public and when they did they wore the Niqab (the black robes that cover the whole body except the eyes). If you look at the photo above, you can't even tell the women are Jewish.

Then in October 2009, as a result of continued anti-Semitism, the U.S. state department mounted a clandestine mission to save the Jews of Yemen. Some were brought to the U.S, some were to travel to Israel, and some remained under the guardianship of the Yemeni government.

Now, with a total Jewish population of only 450 or so, and Saleh (their protector) gone, the Jews of Yemen are very frightened. 

Community leader Rabbi Yahia Youssef Mussa told Bikyamasr.com that Saleh had over his three decades in power and had always been “kind and compassionate” towards the community, adding that now that he was leaving he feared that “groups” would target his people.

“We were living under President Saleh’s protection so far and I am now worried that the next government will ignore our plight. We don’t have the ability to push back the Shia militants if they attack us. What will become of us?” asked the Rabbi.

According to the Rabbi, the escalating trouble between Israel and Iran could mean increased trouble for them.

“Al-Houthis are financed and groomed by Iran, therefore the Jewish community in Yemen has become their target … they have already pillaged our village and stole all our belongings."

They are already noticing the difference in treatment since Saleh's departure.  Some families who had been provided with  housing after their village was raided have been asked to move.

“We were living under President Saleh’s protection so far and I am now worried that the next government will ignore our plight. We don’t have the ability to push back the Shia militants if they attack us. What will become of us?” asked the rabbi.

It looks like after all these centuries, there might not be any Jews left in Yemen.

Islamist University Students In Egypt Shut Down TV Production Because Of "Indecent" Attire

Islamist college students were actually able to shut down production on a TV series based on a novel about student union activism in Egypt in the early 1970s!  The novel "Zat" was written by Sonallah Ibrahim and

 focuses on the sit-in staged by Faculty of Engineering students in 1972 and the demonstrations they led in Tahrir Square.

Why were  students at Aim Shams University in Cairo so outraged?  They took offense to the "indecent" tight costumes the actresses were wearing. Of course, it didn't matter to them that this was simply a representation of the times.  And even though the production company had a 6 month permit to shoot on campus, the dean of of the Faculty of Engineering told the director Kamla Abu Zikri that they had to leave.

No-one involved with the production is happy about what they call a major violation of  'freedom of expression'.

Gabi Khouri, the producer has called out the university for pandering to the Islamist students. He said,

“By being passive towards the students’ action even though we were granted permission to shoot, the university is contributing to this clampdown on art and this kind of thuggery that has been prevalent since the revolution."

Apparently, Egypt recently created  an organization- the Egyptian Creativity Front-

which aims at protecting the rights of artists and freedom on artistic expression, as well as all art-related syndicates.

The production company has appealed to the ECF to ensure that this kind of situation is not duplicated, but in the meantime, they are scouting new locations.

The university was wrong to allow a few rabble-rousers to dictate how they run their establishment. Appeasing the Islamists will only serve to empower them.

Egyptian Presidential Candidate Says Women Will Be Forced To Wear Veil Or "Change Creed"

There are no personal freedoms in Islam. And as far as that famous, oft-quoted verse from the Quran "there is no compulsion in religion"? Totally bogus. Sounds like something you'd hear from a critic of Islam, right? But it isn't some so-called Islamophobe that claims such things, it's Hazem Saleh Abu Ismail, an Islamist fundamentalist (with former ties to the Muslim Brotherhood) who wants to be the next president of Egypt. And he promises that if he does get the job, women will be forced to wear the hijab (Islamic veil), or "change creed". Although he didn't get into specifics about the changing creed part of the statement and what that might entail, we all know that if someone did choose to change their religion they'd be facing apostasy charges and a death sentence, as per Shariah law which he is a huge advocate of.

Ismail said regarding personal freedom in Islam, or the lack thereof :

“If you claim that Allah considers it your personal freedom, show me your reference. Nobody has ever said that - except for people who have no understanding of the Shariah.”

The Mubarak regime kept these kinds of extremists under check with good reason.  In fact, Ismail was apparently charged with "endagering national security."   But with the advent of the Arab Spring, and the rise of the Islamists, people of Ismail's ilk are now free to run for office.

Ismail sees forcing women to wear the veil as simply following Allah's commandements.

“You see, this is the difficulty; this is Islam. Does she want to be a Muslim and not obey Allah's rules? Let them say so; that’s all I ask; let them be honorable and just speak up,” he said.

Speak up? Right. The woman wouldn't have to worry about covering her head because she would have no head to cover once it was chopped off.

As for the whole "no compulsion in Islam" that so many Muslims love to quote when trying to mollify the fears of critics, Ismail had this to say"

 following the Shariah (Islamic law) is like being in the military, where a person has to follow a strict code of conduct.

He said that the Islamic saying of “no compulsion in religion” is comparable to “no compulsion in the military, meaning that if someone wants to enter the military, he can enter and if he does not want to, he does not have to enter.”

But once a person enters the military, that person has to respect its rules, the cleric said.

“If you join, then you are obliged to wear their uniform, to attend their classes, to attend the training with them and to obey their leader,” Ismail said.

So who is this man that is bucking for the top leadership position in Egypt? Ismail is a lawyer, a scholar, and a Salafist.  He wants to end the peace treaty with Israel and reestablish relations with Iran. He has also said he will ban alcohol in public, punish immodestly dressed and make-up clad women, and force the non-Muslims in country to pay a jizya (tax) for not converting to Islam. This would effect approximately 12%  of Egyptians who are Christian Copts.  Late last year,  Ismail was seen in an online video calling Osama bin Laden a martyr for  "speaking the word of truth on power," and for "going to the front lines to work in the path of Allah." He also called on Allah to help Muslims "avenge him." 

And this could be the next president of Egypt. 
Women have lashed out against Ismail, but they're going to have to do a lot more than just complain, because if he does win, they're headed for a Saudi Arabian lifestyle.  And after all their fighting for freedom, that would be such a shame.

Interpol Aided Saudi Arabia In Apprehending Saudi Mohammed Tweeter In Malaysia

This is outrageous!  It turns out Interpol was indirectly responsible for the apprehension of the Saudi columnist, Hamza Kashgari, who has had calls for his execution for apostasy after tweeting about the Prophet Mohammed. 

Interpol has been accused of abusing its powers after Saudi Arabia used the organisation's red notice system to get a journalist arrested in Malaysia for insulting the Prophet Muhammad.

Police in Kuala Lumpur said Hamza Kashgari, 23, was detained at the airport "following a request made to us by Interpol" the international police cooperation agency, on behalf of the Saudi authorities.

[snip]

Kashgari's detention has triggered criticism by human rights groups of Malaysia's decision to arrest the journalist and of Interpol's cooperation in the process.

Jago Russell, the chief executive of the British charity Fair Trials International, which has campaigned against the blanket enforcement of Interpol red notices, said: "Interpol should be playing no part in Saudi Arabia's pursuit of Hamza Kashgari, however unwise his comments on Twitter.

"If an Interpol red notice is the reason for his arrest and detention it would be a serious abuse of this powerful international body that is supposed to respect basic human rights (including to peaceful free speech) and to be barred from any involvement in religious or political cases."

He called on Interpol to stand by its obligations to fundamental human rights and "to comply with its obligation not to play any part in this case, which is clearly of a religious nature".

Interpol, which has 190 member countries, has a series of coloured notice systems that police forces around the world use to pass on requests for help. Contacted at its headquarters in Lyon, France, the organisation did not immediately reply to requests for comment on the Kashgari case.

In response to past criticisms of the red notice system, it has said: "There are safeguards in place. The subject of a red notice can challenge it through an independent body, the commission for the control of Interpol's files (CCF)."

Doesn't Interpol have better things to do, and 'real' criminals to apprehend?! 

Saudi Who Faces Execution For Tweets About Mohammed Arrested In Malaysia

23-year-old Saudi writer/journalist/columnist Hamza Kashgari (aka Mohammad Najeeb A Kashgari) who fled the Kingdom after his tweets about Prophet Mohammed caused a furor, including calls for a death sentence, was arrested in Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur Airport. I'm not sure what possessed him to fly to Malaysia, a Muslim-majority country that isn't as moderate as it claims to be, because even though the Saudis and Malaysians have no 'formal' extradition treaty, it looks like he will probably be extradited under other security agreements.

Malaysia's Home Minister, Hishammuddin Tun Hussain, said:

“The police have been in contact with authorities in Saudi Arabia to determine further action.”

It all started after Kashgari tweeted:

"I have loved things about you and I have hated things about you and there is a lot I don't understand about you." [then added] "I will not pray for you."

Oops. Not something you want to say in country where apostasy is met with calls for death. Demands for his trial as an "apostate" have come from top clerics and others who want his head for having insulted their beloved prophet. Of course, that's exactly what Shariah law calls for, so no surprise there.  And even though the lad apologized, people were having none of his contrition, even though Shariah law clearly states that someone gets 3 days to repent before his/her head gets chopped off.

The usual suspects have already created a Facebook page: "The Saudi people demand Hamza Kashgari's execution". It apparently has almost 10,000 fans, and the administrators were calling for efforts to increase the number.

"Our page has almost 10,000 members... but we need you to work harder. The prophet deserves more respect," said one post.

Top Saudi clerics, calling him an "infidel" and "apostate" want him tried in a Shariah court (that's so they can execute him).  Their statement said,

"Muslim scholars everywhere have agreed that those who insult Allah and his prophet or the (Muslim holy book) Koran or anything in religion are infidels and apostates."

After a meeting of The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Religious Edicts (Ifta), the Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh also called for action, stating that mocking Mohammad was apostasy, sacrilegious and kufr (infidelity).

"Whoever dares make a mockery of Allah, the Prophet or the Holy Book undermines the religion and displays enmity toward it. It is the duty of the rulers to try such a criminal," the committee said, warning Muslims to stay away from such practices so as to avoid exasperating God.

Then the website, The Prophet's Sunnah and Sciences, piped in:

"This is a sacrilegious action necessitating harsh punitive measures to deter others who might think of doing the same thing," supervisor of the website Faleh Al-Saqeer said. He expressed confidence that the rulers of this Islamic country would not allow the culprit to get off scot-free.

Of 30,000 plus tweets in response to Kashgari's so-called transgression, only a lone voice here and there asked for forgiveness:

"Brothers, the man has repented. If the prophet himself was here he would have forgiven him and ended this," said tweeter Saleh al-Ghamdi.

It's rather telling that most Muslims are calling for his execution or, barring his head, at least some serious form of punishment.  So much for mercy in Islam.

Sources: GulfNews, Breitbart,  ArabNews,

Brussells University Debate Heckled By Muslim Fundamentalists

There is no civil discourse when it comes to Islamic fundamentalists. They allow no room for debate, no freedom of speech, and civility is a word that does not seem to exist in their lexicon. We often witness their uncivilized behaviour at University lectures and debates.  Back in 2010, on the UC Irvine Campus, Muslim students heckled a lecture on American/Israeli relations given by Israel's Ambassador to the U.S. Michael B Oren.  The video shows just how disrespectful the students were.

This time their boorish behaviour was captured on tape at a Brussels University (ULB) where French journalist Caroline Fourest (a secularist) was set to debate Hervé Hasquin on the subject: "Has the extreme right become socially acceptable or not?" Fourest, a feminist, anti-racist, anti-Islamic Totalitarianism  received death threats (along with 11 others) in 2006 for signing: Manifesto: Together Facing the New Totalitarianism, a response to the violence that erupted after the Danish Jyllands-Posten Mohammed Cartoons. 

The debate had yet to begin when some rabble-rousers (including some niqab-clad women) started heckling the participants accusing Fourest of Islamophobia.  At about 4:36 on the video below, they start getting rowdy and chanting "Burqa!!"  bla-bla.

At one point, after being goaded by the debate moderator Guy Haarscher into coming on stage to speak, the instigator of the protest, Souhail Chichah, an assistant and researcher in economics at the university, grabbed a veil and continued his harangue.  Apparently, Chichah (who is said to have extremist views) had for several days been calling for "Burqa Pride" on various social networks, and was devoted to the "stoning of Caroline Fourest".

Fourest finally left, escorted by security, saying she would never return.

University officials were so outraged by this clear violation of freedom of expression, that the rector has called for a disciplinary board to look into what actions should be taken against Chichah.

He should be fired.

 


H/T Islam In Europe

Islamist Trouble In The Maldives After President Mohamed Nasheed Forced To Resign

There's trouble in paradise, it seems. The Maldives- the chichi resort destination for the rich and sometimes-famous located in the Indian Ocean- also happens to be exclusively Muslim; no tolerance for other religions here. But the most recent president, Mohamed Nasheed (a human rights, pro-democracy activist who toppled the 30 year reign of his predecessor), was the first democratically-elected president in the history of the Island nation. He also didn't last long. Elected in 2008, he claims he was forced to resign at gunpoint on February 7, 2012 after a mutiny- read, coup d'etat- by police.

Apparently, trouble had been brewing for several weeks after Nasheed ordered the arrest of the Chief Justice of the Criminal Court, Abdulla Mohamed, "for corruption, in particular for allowing his judicial decisions to be determined by political and personal affiliations and interests", and for releasing  Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, a government critic .  Ahmed was said to have made “slanderous” allegations that Nasheed's government was in cahoots with “Jews and Christian priests” to weaken Islam in the Maldives by bringing Christianity to the islands, establishing diplomatic ties with Israel, and doing business with Jews.

The Maldives have always had a somewhat moderate take on Islam, but Islamists are a growing problem there, as they are elsewhere. Nasheed had troubles earlier last year with religious hardliners who believed him to be too liberal, and therefore un-Islamic, calling for more conservative policies. And yesterday, a mob of those Islamic radicals trashed a bunch of statues (including some Buddhist ones) in the national museum, because idolatry is forbidden in Islam.

Nasheed's successor, Vice President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik says he had nothing to do with the change of guard, but that seems unlikely. However, he has promised to protect Nasheed, and has called for peace and a unity government.

Ironically, the country is set for presidential elections next November. 

With an economy that is largely dependent upon tourism, the Maldivians better think twice about allowing their radical, ultra religious elements to gain control.  Religious fundamentalism and tourism don't mix. The current situation is already causing problems with tourism.  There are many beautiful Island paradises without the religious baggage that the Maldive Islands obviously have.

Other sources: Guardian UK, BBC, WebIndia

Atheist Indonesian Civil Servant Faces Five Years In Jail For Blasphemy

The constitution of so-called 'moderate' Indonesia calls for freedom of religion, with one caveat, however- it has to be one of the 6 state sanctioned faiths. You're good to go if you practice mainstream Islam (minority sects like the Ahmadiyah are a no-no), Buddhism, Catholicism, Confucianism (go figure),Hinduism and Protestantism. I guess you're out of luck if your a Jew. And although Atheism is not a religion, per se, if your an Atheist in Indonesia you better watch out.

30-year-old Alexander Aan, a West Sumatran civil servant and avowed Atheist, created a Facebook Page called Ateis Minang (Minang Atheist) that now has over 2,000 likes. Aan has been very open about his disbelief in God and other religious 'myths' like the devil, angels and heaven and hell. Unfortunately, Aan lives in a heavily Muslim locale and fellow residents took umbrage with a recent post that said "God doesn't exist".  That post was enough to trigger a posse of angry Muslims who trekked on over to his office and beat the man up. He was subsequently arrested, and could face up to five years for blasphemy. He has support from his on-line Facebook 'fans who are encouraging him to stick to his 'beliefs', but extremists, of course, want his head.

The Islamic Society Forum (FUI), an umbrella group for several hardline groups, said that a five-year jail term for Aan would not suffice.

“He deserves the death penalty, even if he decides to repent. What he has done cannot be tolerated,” said Muhammad al-Khaththath, FUI’s secretary-general.

“It is important to prevent this group from spreading atheism in this country,” he added.

He does have the backing of the International Atheist Alliance which has called on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to drop all blasphemy charges.

“This is a law that has been used to promote mob violence and intimidation against those who do not agree with... vigilante groups,” said the letter, copies of which were also sent to the United Nations and Human Rights Watch.

Although he has many supporters in those 2,000 plus fans, many who joined after the news of his arrest made headlines are Muslims, and they too are calling for death to all Atheists.

“These atheists should be beheaded, that’s what they deserve,” wrote a man who identified himself as Putra Tama, a Muslim from neighboring Jambi province.

“If you think your arguments are true, why don’t you just have a face-to-face meeting with us, people who still believe in God? You’re just a group of cowards,” taunted a post by another Muslim.

According to local police chief Chairul Aziz, Aan (who was born a Muslim and became an Atheist in 2008) apparently said that he was willing to revert to Islam, but unfortunately it won't make any difference.

“He expressed his intention to convert to Islam but he has not performed an Islamic declaration of faith. Even if he does so, he still can't escape from justice due to his blasphemous act,” Aziz told AFP.

He could also be in trouble for claiming he was a Muslim when he applied for his job, and could be fired.

So much for moderate Indonesia and its bogus freedom of religion.

Sources: Al Arabiya, Jakarta Post

Bangladeshi College Teacher Arrested For Blasphemy Over Banned Taslima Nasrin Book

It doesn't take much to land you in jail in Muslim-majority Bangladesh.

DHAKA, Bangladesh: A news report says the head teacher of a college in southern Bangladesh has been arrested after a book considered blasphemous by some Muslims was found in the school’s library.

The Prothom Alo newspaper said Wednesday that S.M. Yunus Ali was arrested for possessing the novel “Lajja,” or “Shame,” written by exiled writer Taslima Nasrin.

It said Ali, head teacher at the K.C. Technical and Business Management College, denied having the book and said he was the victim of a conspiracy.

Taslima Nasrin (Nasreen) is a Bangladeshi ex-medical doctor, human rights activist, poet and author with a death fatwa on her head. She has been living in exile since shortly after her book "Lajja" ( Shame: A Novel) was banned in 1993 for daring to criticize the 'atrocities' being perpetrated against the Hindu minority. A secular Muslim, now Atheist, she is a fierce advocate for gender equality and secular humanism.

Yunus Ali is lucky he lives in Bangladesh and not neighbouring Pakistan because all he faces in Bangladesh is jail time, if the fundamentalists don't get to him beforehand. In Pakistan he'd get the death penalty because God forbid anyone's feelings should be hurt by the ownership of a banned book in a library.

Saudi Textbooks Teach Teens How To Chop Off Hands and Feet and That Jews And Gays Should Be Killed

Wonder why Saudi Arabia produces so many terrorists, including the most evil of them all- Osama Bin Laden? It all starts in the Kingdom's educational institutes, where young children are taught to hate.

A while back, the Saudis made promises to clean up school text books, but they obviously lied since the books are just as hateful as they were in the past. According to Ali al-Ahmed of Washington DC's Institute for Gulf Affairs, 9th and 10th grade kids are being taught all sorts of charming Shariah goodies like- how to chop off the hands and feet of thieves. And, of course, those nasty Jews and gays should be killed, because, well, they're just not cool in Islam. Taken straight from the teachings of the Quran, these kids are being taught that Jews need to be wiped off the face of the earth:

'The hour (of judgment) will not come until the Muslims fight the Jews and kill them. There is a Jew behind me come and kill him.'

The above quote is from Sahih Muslim Hadith# 6985 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah regarding Islam's Judgement Day.

"Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him) said: The Last Hour would not come unless the Muslims will fight against the Jews and the Muslims would kill them until the Jews would hide themselves behind a stone or a tree and a stone or a tree would say: Muslim, or the servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me; come and kill him; but the tree Gharqad would not say, for it is the tree of the Jews."

What do we expect from a people so entrenched in Islamic dogma that it verges on cultism. Yes, there are those who explain away the hadith as merely figurative speech, and perhaps they truly do believe that. But, unfortunately, there are many more (including the Saudis, Palestinians and Iranians) who take it literally, with the extermination of the Jews  a major goal.

And it's not as if those text books were from decades ago, these books were newly published for the 2010/2011 school year and paid for by the Saudi government. 

Those text books also teach that homosexuals should be killed (just like they are in Iran), because according to al-Ahmed "they pose a danger at society." Not surprisingly, those same books denigrate women, describing them as irresponsible and weak. 

And, as expected, no response from the Saudis.