“With this, Vishnudev, a native of Alleppey in Kerala, has become the first Indian to be punished under Saudi Arabia’s stricter anti-blasphemy laws that came into force two weeks ago.”
Yeah, Saudi Arabia is really reforming.
“Vishnudev was found guilty of making remarks against the legal system in Saudi Arabia and against the Prophet of Islam in a conversation on Twitter.”
We’re much more enlightened in the West. In the U.S., if you say something against the Prophet of Islam in a conversation on Twitter, Twitter will shadowban or suspend you, and you’ll be excoriated as a racist, “Islamophobic” bigot, and shunned by all decent people. You may even have to undergo psychiatric tests. But you won’t be imprisoned for blasphemy — at least not yet.
“Indian engineer sentenced to 5 years for blasphemy in Saudi Arabia,” by Trisha Thomas, Ultra News, September 20, 2018:
An engineer from Kerala working with a petroleum company in Saudi Arabia has been sentenced to five years of imprisonment and a fine of around Rs 30 lakhs for his tweets.
With this, Vishnudev, a native of Alleppey in Kerala, has become the first Indian to be punished under Saudi Arabia’s stricter anti-blasphemy laws that came into force two weeks ago.
The new rules promise up to five years of imprisonment and a fine of up to 3 mln riyals (Rs 5.8 cr) for anyone who mocks or insults the religious and moral values of the country.
The law also covers incendiary and subversive posts and messages, and is applicable to both the creation of such messages as well as their distribution or forwarding.
Vishnudev was found guilty of making remarks against the legal system in Saudi Arabia and against the Prophet of Islam in a conversation on Twitter….
Marina says
5 years for criticizing a criminal. That is too severe. Poor man. So much for women driving.
christianblood says
Saudi-Arabia=ISIS a close US ally!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9O0uR03s7m4
Jean Terry says
It is my understanding the religious police over there have a lot of power and the Saudi monarchy is cautious with them for fear of being brought down? Nevertheless, I hope the Indian government is working to get this man out of prison.
gravenimage says
Jean, I’m afraid the idea that the Saudi monarchy really, really wants to be civilized but doesn’t have a chance is *very* questionable.
David Clarke says
G I, even if he is trying to move in the right direction, one wrong move and he could be assassinated. Presumably the police are Muslim fundamentalists, or just Muslims as we know them.
Renate says
The reforms seem to have relaxed since last April. Maybe there was an attempted coup then because the grand plans for reform seem to have fallen by the wayside since then. Something changed in April. Even the Saudi Royal Family have to be careful in the Middle East because there are aways various people who want them deposed. Even within the family, one branch of cousins opposes the other.
FYI says
YES,you can draw a picture of muhammed.Anyone can do this!You don’t even have to know how to draw…
1.Draw a picture an empty desert scene.
2.And in the corner..draw ….a dot.
3.There you go:Subtitle it e.g “muhammed riding a unicyle in the desert” Or
“muhammed playing with jibreel,his pet hamster” etc
Now see what the islamic fanatics say..but first..see if they can answer the following..
1 How do you know it is muhammed when you cannot even see any facial features?
{Use magnifying glass,microscope provided.}
2 How do you know it isn’t somebody else called muhammed?
3 How do you know he’s even riding a Unicycle?
4 If you don’t know what muhammed actually looked like…how do you know any picture of a man in a cartoon is muhammed?Prove it.
YES,you can draw any pictures you like..
Picture an empty desert:nothing is in it.
“muhammed testing a cloaking device he bought from the Klingons”
Picture an empty sky with a dot.
“Is that muhammed in his magic flying carpet…or is it just a UFO?”
Picture of the moon with an arrow pointing to it..and a dot.
“The day muhammed spilt the moon in half”
If a million people drew such pictures…with nothing but a dot to represent muhammed..how could muslim fanatics complain?it’s just a dot..it could be anybody..
David M says
Theresa may & Sadiq Khan would love to have this law in Britain. They would be in heaven.
Adam says
It will be fine Trump danced with them.
Moderate islam means the sword that is used to cut your head off is moderately sharp. Never ever trust them, every word out of their mouth is a lie.
Any doubts read “The History of Jihad” by Robert Spencer. Case closed.
gravenimage says
Saudi Arabia: Indian engineer gets five years prison and fine for criticizing Muhammad on Twitter
…………………
This poor man. So much fort, d those “reforms”.
And I doubt, sadly, that India will do much to try to secure his freedom. I would like to see the West cut these thugs off.
gravenimage says
So much for those “reforms”.
Peter Anderson says
Did you leave out “heads” in your post
infidel says
No human rights advocy orgs, no feminists. no refugee friendly NGOs.. will speak now.. According to them, ONLY MUSLIMS are victims…
Relic says
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRWRLECeW7Y
Michelle says
This poor guy will be converted or murdered in prison there, most folk think the 5 yrs was harsh…