Reciting the Qur’an, were they? Didn’t they realize that its peaceful words would rebuke them? What’s that? They were quoting it in support of their violent activities? What are you, some kind of Islamophobe? From Arab News, with thanks to Eschwapp:
SANAA, 16 August 2005 “” A Yemeni security court yesterday began the trial of 34 suspected supporters of slain preacher Hussein Badruddin Al-Houthi but the judge quickly adjourned the session after the defendants chanted anti-government slogans drowning out court proceedings.
“Death to America, Death to Israel,” the defendants shouted in unison before loudly reciting the Qur’an, drowning out all court proceedings. “We reject this trial as the government that is prosecuting us is our enemy.”
Before the ruckus erupted, the prosecutor had charged the Yemenis with belonging to a subversive armed group.
Chief prosecutor Saeed Al-Aqel accused the defendants of a spate of attacks on soldiers and military vehicles in the capital in recent months, in which one officer was killed and 27 other people wounded.