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An update on this story in modern, moderate Jordan (the king rides a motorcycle, you know). "Jordan arrests poet accused of insulting Islam," by Shafika Mattar for the Associated Press, October 21 (thanks to Alex):
AMMAN, Jordan (AP) -- Jordanian police arrested a local writer Tuesday for incorporating verses of the Quran, the Muslim holy book, into his love poetry, a judicial official said.
The poet, Islam Samhan, published his collection of poems, "Grace like a Shadow," without the approval of the Jordanian government, and authorities say it insults the holy book, the official said.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
Samhan was charged with harming the Islamic faith and violating the press and publication law for combining the sacred words of the Quran with sexual themes.
If convicted, the poet could face up to three years in jail.
Jordanian law bans the publication of any books or articles that could be seen as harmful to Islam and its Prophet Muhammad.
A book of love poems can harm Muhammad from beyond the grave?
More than two years ago, the court convicted the editors of two weekly newspapers of insulting Islam and sentenced them to two months in prison after they reprinted Danish newspaper caricatures of Muhammad.
Jordanian writers and artists urged the government in a collective petition to immediately release the poet, saying the arrest is a "retreat in the freedom of expression," and called for an end to the "oppression of freedom and intimidation practiced against intellectuals."
Posted by Marisol at October 21, 2008 9:10 AM
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"Jordanian writers and artists urged the government in a collective petition to immediately release the poet, saying the arrest is a "retreat in the freedom of expression," and called for an end to the "oppression of freedom and intimidation practiced against intellectuals."
Good Luck with that.
Posted by: darcy![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/nav-commenters.gif)
at October 21, 2008 9:38 AM
"Samhan was charged with harming the Islamic faith and violating the press and publication law for combining the sacred words of the Quran with sexual themes"
HaHa, as if the Koran wasn't obsessed with the minutiae of M's overactive sex-life. See hilarious video below for Koranic details of his 'affair' (for want of a better word) with one of his wives' slaves, Maria the Copt.
See all the 'revelations' that episode brought forth. Among other things, one upshot of it was that it made it halal not just to sleep with your own slaves and those of your father and sons, but also those of your wives'.
Sexual morality, how are you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RobTCmuKWIY
Posted by: Silvester at October 21, 2008 9:52 AM
Guess his name didn't protect him. Ooops.
And those editors only got two months in prison? Surprising; I would have thought they'd gotten a death sentence. Of course, maybe what they experienced while in prison would have seemed like one.
Sick stuff, really. I often feel like I'm in a parallel universe when reading the JW/DW sites.
at October 21, 2008 9:56 AM
Wasn't Arab culture before Mohammed ruined it, full of poets and writers? So much for jahiliya. It seems that now is the time of jahiliya.
Posted by: Jewel Atkins at October 21, 2008 10:03 AM
If Muslims believed in truth they would accept criticism of Mohammad and Islam. They don't which is why Islam is a Toxic religion.
If one compares the criticism written of Christianity to Islam it is a 1 to 1,000,000 proposition. Christianity is willing to rationally and peaceful defend its religion with talk. Islam kills.
Posted by: James Martel at October 21, 2008 12:40 PM
Wasn't Arab culture before Mohammed ruined it, full of poets and writers? So much for jahiliya. It seems that now is the time of jahiliya.
Posted by: Jewel Atkins
In a free society like Pre-Islamic Arabia, the poets acted as society's conscience and were free to criticise, satirize and examine the actions of people. The two most famous poets of this kind were Abu 'Afak; an extremely old and respected poet and Asma bint Marwan; a young mother with the gift of superb verse.
Muhammad was enraged at their criticism. When he heard the verses composed by Asma Bint Marwan he was infuriated and screamed aloud, "Will no one rid me of this daughter of Marwan!" That very night a gang of Muslims set out to do the dirty deed. They broke into the poets' house. She was lying in in her bedroom suckling her newborn child, while her other small children slept nearby. The Muslims tore the newborn infant off her breast and hacked it to pieces before her very eyes. They then made her watch the murder of all four of her children, before raping and then stabbing her repeatedly to death. After the murder when the Muslims went to inform the Prophet, he said "You have done a service to Allah and his Messenger, her life was not worth even two goats!"
A month later the distinguished and highly respected Abu Afak, who was over a hundred years old and reknowned for his sense of fairness, was killed brutally in the same manner as he slept. Once again the Prophet had commented that morning "Who will avenge me on this scoundrel!"
Posted by: InfidelK9 at October 21, 2008 3:44 PM
Unfortunately for them, the Jordanian artists and intellectuals seem to be conflating islam and Christianity and the rights given to us by our Creator. Unfortunately, allah isn't so giving unless you count murder, death and mayhem.
Posted by: eve_anne_gelical at October 21, 2008 4:31 PM
The first victims of Islam are Muslims.
Posted by: tanstaafl at October 21, 2008 7:14 PM
The last victims of Islam will be Muslims.
Posted by: pulsar182 at October 22, 2008 5:00 AM
US Congress gives Jordan, upwards of 1 billion US Tax dollars, every year!
Posted by: Alert at October 22, 2008 8:31 AM
Islam--so fragile. Muhammed and Allah--so sensitive.
The Noble Qur'an--such manure...
Posted by: Abscedere at October 23, 2008 10:20 AM
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