In the enlightened West, we do not yet imprison people for blaspheming Islam. We are far too broad-minded for that. Instead, we just excoriate opponents of jihad mass murder as racist, bigoted “Islamophobes,” intent on “poking Muslims in the eye,” and we ostracize them and shun them in all polite circles.
“5-year blasphemy sentence upheld for Egyptian TV anchor,” Ahram Online, October 11, 2015 (thanks to The Religion of Peace):
An Egyptian appeals court upheld Saturday a five-year prison sentence against TV anchor Islam El-Behery, a prominent researcher in Islamic studies, for “contempt of religion”.
El-Behery received the sentence in May and was released on bail in the case, which was filed by lawyer Mohamed Abdel-Salam.
In June, El-Behery was acquitted of charges of blasphemy in another case.
The researcher’s show, With Islam, was canceled in April. It aired on satellite TV channel Al-Kahera Wal-Nas and tackled controversial issues like punishments for apostasy and different interpretations of Islam….

mortimer says
Even a lack of enthusiasm for Islam is grounds for a charge in many Muslim countries. ‘Blasphemy’ as a lack of enthusiasm is considered a moral defect.
Westman says
“El-Behery, a prominent researcher in Islamic studies (wss convicted), for ‘contempt of religion’”.
I can’t think of a more contemptible religious ideology than orthodox Islam.
Jay Boo says
Who was Muhammad?
Muslims cannot dispute this.
Merciful Muhammed- Kill the Breastfeeding Mother
Dr. Divinity says
Blasphemy Laws?????? Just shows the pinnacle of stupidity of muslims
Angemon says
Not yet. At least in the US. And officially – Hilary did get that filmmaker arrested, as she promised (to save her ass), but the official reason was that he used an alias, or something along those lines.
Jay Boo says
When in Islamic countries — Watch your every step.
There are sticky piles of Islam everywhere underfoot.
bill walker says
I wouldn’t visit any Islamic country if they offered me 72 virgins or white grapes or both.
MTMLA says
Same here. I can’t understand these ignorant people going to Turkey on vacation and spending $$$ to prop up their economy…Turkey is a hot place to visit by the infidels who stupidly support their enemy…go figure…
Lia Wissing says
Do the same in all of Europe & in the USA.
john spielman says
Unfortunately, there are more “sticky piles” of islam on the ground here too!
Westman says
The only subject that cannot be truthfully discussed on a program in Egypt about Islam is……..Islam.
mortimer says
Sharia law, anyone? Sharia law is not benign…it is savage, barbaric and irrational.
Jay Boo says
The Insha’Allah religion
But what exactly is Allah’s will.
Allah will (trick) those he chooses.
Aha
If Allah is all powerful and his will supreme, then why would Allah need to (trick) anyone.
citycat says
An army of blasphemers is medicine to to cure the cancer.
The cancer is oppression driven.
Blasphemy is the truth that deconstructs the mental oppression.
Blasphemy is the oppressed innocents fighting back.
MTMLA says
Same here. I can’t understand these ignorant people going to Turkey on vacation and spending $$$ to prop up their economy…Turkey is a hot place to visit by the infidels who stupidly support their enemy…go figure…
BC says
If people want to believe in mythical beings somewhere in the stratosphere and they are going to float around like clouds with all their relatives for all eternity, they are welcome to do so but in private and not enforce their odd ideas on other people. In any case all religion should be held in contempt. It is no coincidence that
‘organised religion’ got going at the same time as writing was invented. Before that humanity managed quite well without it.
duh_swami says
The two most valuable concepts in Bible religions, not found in Islam, are the Supreme Commandment, and the Golden Rule…You can take religion completely out of those, and they would still stand as good advice.
Once those are understood, you can study the rest or not study the rest…
duh_swami says
Don’t worry, Bill O’Reilly has never committed an act of blasphemy, and never will…
TheBuffster says
Any government who sends people to prison for “contempt of religion” should be thrown into prison for contempt of reason.
citycat says
Yep,
“contempt of reason”
is absolutely the case.
And although
“contempt of reason”
is displayed in other religions by some devotees, one’s reason does not get punished by prison or death.
Radegunda says
Wasn’t Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff prosecuted by the Austrian government for saying unflattering (but documented) things about Mohammed? The pretext was that it was hate-speech against a group of people, but ti looked more like a case of enforcing the Islamic blasphemy code.