One of the journalists, Rafiq Tagi, already has a death fatwa issued against him by Iran. "2 journalists go on trial in Azerbaijan," by Aida Sultanova for Associated Press:
BAKU, Azerbaijan - Two Azerbaijani journalists accused of inciting religious hatred with an article that criticized Islam went on trial Monday, both accusing authorities of waging a politically motivated prosecution.
The case against reporter Rafiq Tagi and editor Samir Huseinov has touched a nerve in Azerbaijan, a mostly Muslim, ex-Soviet republic with a government that has little tolerance for independent media.
Tagi's November article in the small newspaper Senet, edited by Huseinov, asserted that Islam has suffocated people, pulled them away from freedom and hindered humanity's development, and said the Prophet Muhammad created problems for Eastern countries.
The article sparked angry protests — including calls for Tagi's death — in a village near Baku whose conservative Muslim community has clashed with the authoritarian government. The case has also deepened concerns about freedom of speech in the oil-rich country.
Tagi, who was brought into the court in handcuffs, said he committed no crime.
"My article — this was purely artistic, a literary discussion and for words one must only answer with words. It is illegal to imprison someone for their convictions," he told the court.
Huseinov told the court his constitutional rights had been violated and that authorities were trying to portray him as not being Muslim.
If convicted, Tagi and Huseinov could face three to five years in prison.
The trial has been postponed twice — once after prosecutors asked for more time to investigate and a second time earlier this month after the judge granted a prosecution request to try the pair in the district where their newspaper's office is located, rather than where they live.
The government of President Ilham Aliev, who took over from his father in a 2003 election denounced by opponents as a sham, has faced persistent criticism over the heavy-handed treatment of independent media.
The trial was expected to be closely watched in the West, which is interested in Azerbaijan because of its vast oil and gas wealth and its strategic position between Iran and Russia.
So Muslims are calling for Tagi's death for saying that Islam hindered humanity's development. Well, maybe he had a point.
AANCC is playing "undercover mosques" this Thursday in Sydney. Also included will be a special short feature entitled "how to submit to Islam" starring Ray Martin and Bob Hawke.
call 0431 739 260 or email aancci@gmail.com to book a seat.
cheers
Darrin.
This is the kind of Islam that CAIR and their kind want to push on us. Looks like a part of a former Soviet republic is going to face worst oppression that it was when the communists were in control.
Tolerant Islam alert!
Oh, the lucky people of Azerbajan! Their society is shaped by either the ultimate triumph of scientific progress and liberation on the one hand or by the religion of peace on the other.
Shocking that people can be sent to prison for insulting a religion - that would never happen in a free country
Israel Shamir’s Parisian publisher sentenced to pay €23,500 and given a three-month suspended prison sentence.
It was an absolutely staggering piece of news that came down on the wires of the Agence France-Presse at 5.34pm on the 2nd of November. We reproduce it below as is.
On Wednesday, the court in Nanterre sentenced the manager of the publishing house Al Qalam to three months in prison, suspended, and to a fine of €10,000 for having published Israel Shamir’s anti-Semitic work, L’autre visage d’Israël (The Other Face of Israel); furthermore, the sale of he book has been prohibited.
The court found Abdelila Cherifi Alaoui, the manager of the publishing house, Al Qalam, guilty of ‘incitement to discrimination, exhortation to hatred and violence’ towards the membership of a religion.
In addition to the suspended three-month prison sentence and the fine of €10,000, Al Qalam will also have to pay €12,000 in damages and €1,500 in court expenses on behalf of the plaintiff, the International League Against Racism and Anti-Semitism (LICRA). Lastly, the publisher has 30 days to withdraw the book from all bookshops, under a €100 penalty for every copy remaining on the shelves at the end of that period.
http://www.israelshamir.net/Reviews/Review19.htm