“The future must not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam,” said Barack Obama, and that likely means that we will eventually be getting laws like this one in the U.S.
“Malaysians accused of insulting Islam,” from the Bangkok Post, July 18:
A Malaysian couple was charged Thursday with posting online a Ramadan greeting that allegedly mocked Islam and its holy month of fasting.
The picture on the social networking website Facebook showed Alvin Tan Jye Yee, 25, and his partner Vivian Lee May Ling, 24, eating what appeared to be pork rib soup, with the caption “fragrant, delicious and appetising”, in Malay.
But the photo also carried the round logo used to indicate products that are halal, or permitted to Muslims, in Malaysia.
The two were charged with committing acts likely to cause feelings of enmity on grounds of religion.
Pork is forbidden to Muslims. The couple has since apologised for the posting, saying it was meant to be a joke.
About 61% of Malaysia’s 29 million people profess to the Islamic faith, while 20% are Buddhist, 9% Christian, and around 6% Hindu.