Apparently post-Muslim Brotherhood Egypt has not discarded Sharia blasphemy laws. In any case, we are much freer and more enlightened in the West. If Fatima Naoot had been in the West, she would not face criminal charges for criticizing any aspect of Islam. She would just be excoriated as a “racist” and a “bigot,” and shunned by all decent people.
“Egyptian writer charged for tweet ‘defaming’ Islam,” Times Live, December 27, 2014:
Egyptian prosecutors have referred a writer to a criminal trial on charges of showing contempt for Islam in a tweet allegedly criticising ritual slaughtering, state-run newspaper al-Ahram reported online Saturday.
The referral comes in response to a lawsuit filed by a lawyer against Fatima Naoot, accusing her of defaming Islam in a tweet in October commenting on Muslims’ annual slaughtering of animals to mark Eid al-Adha, according to al-Ahram.
“A happy massacre,” read the tweet.
No specific date has been set for the trial.
Naoot, a poet and a columnist in independent newspaper al-Masry al-Youm, denied on Saturday she had meant to lampoon Islam.
“I respect all religions,” she said on her Facebook page.
“This is the bill footed by those who carry torches of enlightenment,” she added, commenting on her trial.
Naoot could be jailed for up to five years if convicted.
In June, an Egyptian court upheld a five-year prison sentence handed down to another writer on charges of showing contempt for religion in a collection of short stories.
Walter Sieruk says
This Egyptian who tweeter keyboarder who committed some other Muslims call “defaming Islam”is rather interesting For once again this is yet another example of just how little arguments the Islamic clerics had to defend Islam. That so many Muslim countries have such an absurd thing as “blasphemy laws” only exposes that this religion is so weak that it can’t hold up to or stand up to criticism.
terry says
“only exposes that this religion is so weak that it can’t hold up to or stand up to criticism.”
That’s exactly it and even worse!
particolor says
Ill bet the Author of The Three Little Pigs is relieved He was born in Egypt ?
BC says
Because (they claim) it is perfect an thus above an beyond criticism. Just like Madmo is the perfect man,
in spite of ample evidence to the contrary, cannot be criticised. The fact is nothing is beyond criticism
least of all religion of any kind
Mark Spahn (West Seneca, NY) says
http://www.timeslive.co.za/africa/2014/12/27/egyptian-writer-charged-for-tweet-defaming-islam
What crummy news reporting!
A tweet is no longer than 140 characters, so the original al-Ahram reporter could have quoted the whole tweet verbatim. Are the three English words “A happy massacre” the entirety of the tweet? The staunchest jihadi could not object to “a happy slaughter” (“slaughter” being a neutral term for transforming living animal flesh into food). So is the objection directed at the PETA-like description “massacre”? Or was the tweet in Arabic, and what exactly did it say?
Salah says
Unlike what we may think, *THIS* is good news.
Egyptian writers, academics and intellectuals are openly and publicly criticizing Islam.
Some of them will have to pay a heavy price, but Islam is slowly but surely paying a much heavier one.
Here’s another Egyptian intellectual openly criticizing al-Azhar’s teachings about…cannibalism!!!
We are witnessing the final coup de grace of Islam, blasphemy laws can’t stop it.
http://crossmuslims.blogspot.ca/2014/08/cannibalism-in-islam-taught-at-al-azhar.html
Peter Buckley says
Correct. Egyptians themselves admit to the rapid growth in Atheism:
http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/while-atheism-egypt-rises-backlash-ensues
Contrary to what many think, Islam is collapsing. Nobody said the collapse would be peaceful. It won’t be…
Salah says
You’re right, Peter. Islam is indeed collapsing, and it won’t be peaceful.
A mortally wounded beast is an extremely dangerous one, yet this doesn’t change the fact that it is dying.
http://crossmuslims.blogspot.ca/2014/01/egyptian-muslims-tear-up-quran.html
Truth says
The Muslim prophet Mohammad was an evil child molester and an evil supporter of slavery. Nobody should follow him anywhere.
Keith Jordan says
I think his followers should follow him into Hell.
IQ al Rassooli says
Dear readers
As USUAL, simple facts elude the intellect of most people
How is it possible to INSULT a Cult belief system which is BENEATH CONTEMPT based entirely upon it own scripture?
I rest my case!
IQ al Rassooli
Kafir & Proud!
particolor says
Don’t You dare rest a Case anywhere near My Court !!
Huck Folder says
The English say: “You can’t take the piss out of shit!”
Andrew GB says
Was following a blog called mo’s m8 NOW that was blasphemous!!! Funniest thing ive read in a while.
I would imagine saying something like Mohammed was a false prophet a pedophile and a flea bitten cross dressing bisexual degenerate would be frowned upon also?
Merry Christmas everyone,
Angemon says
Some religions want to be left in perpetual darkness. Perhaps we should start calling muslims “bringers of darkness”?
Huck Folder says
Glossing a Yiddish proverb: “Moslems are electrifying, they light up a room when they leave.”
Mike says
Are you sure this was not a tweet about the events in Ferguson?