Egypt Charges Islamic Cleric with Insulting Religion!
Valiuth ·
September 27, 2012 at 10:12pm
Well, well, well ... I didn't think I would read this headline. From NBC Online news comes to us of Egypt enforcing its ridiculous blasphemy laws ... against a Muslim!
In protest against the recent slights to Islam, the cleric in question tore up and burned a copy of the New Testament in front of the U.S. embassy. Acting on its anti-blasphemy laws, Egyptian authorities have arrested the man and intend to prosecute.
So, fellow Ricochetiers are you, like me, slightly surprised? I thought Egypt's anti-blasphemy laws were a smoke screen for Islamist dominance. But, what to make of this? Is this just a show, or are they mad enough to actually enforce their laws evenly?
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Jun '10
Re: Egypt Charges Islamic Cleric with Insulting Religion!
I've always thought it a bit of a stretch to extend freedom of speech to actions like burning things. To my literal mind, freedom of speech is the freedom to say anything you want. Along those lines, on a strictly originalist reading of the 1st Amendment, I'm not convinced it protects flag burning.
Aug '10
Re: Egypt Charges Islamic Cleric with Insulting Religion!
Just think how insignificant the impact would be if the Egyptian Government announced tomorrow that they had executed Mohammed Doe for this crime ?
Re: Egypt Charges Islamic Cleric with Insulting Religion!
The Founders didn't think actions of this sort were protected speech.
See Chancellor Kent in People v Ruggles . Kent maintained that you don't have a right to blaspheme Christianity in America because it undermines morals and good order to do so.
We are unable to think about these things with any clarity in our day. Freedom of speech or expression is now merely a slogan with no connection to any comprehensive view of the role of government in securing our rights.
I am not worried about the Egyptian cleric--I am worried about the ongoing denial of freedom of association and legitimate free speech right here.
Edited on September 28, 2012 at 1:03amJun '10
Re: Egypt Charges Islamic Cleric with Insulting Religion!
John Grant: The Founders didn't think actions of this sort were protected speech.
See Chancellor Kent in People v Ruggles . Kent maintained that you don't have a right to blaspheme Christianity in America because it undermines morals and good order to do so.
We are unable to think about these things with any clarity in our day. Freedom of speech or expression is now merely a slogan with no connection to any comprehensive view of the role of government in securing our rights.
I am not worried about the Egyptian cleric--I am worried about the ongoing denial of freedom of association and legitimate free speech right here.
I tend to agree with you here. We've reached an odd state in American history when blasphemy, flag burning, and pornography are all considered "speech" protected by the 1st Amendment, but buying a TV or radio spot to actually speak about political issues during an election campaign is highly regulated and restricted by the government. The world is topsy-turvey.
May '10
Re: Egypt Charges Islamic Cleric with Insulting Religion!
Joseph Stanko
We've reached an odd state in American history when blasphemy, flag burning, and pornography are all considered "speech" protected by the 1st Amendment, but buying a TV or radio spot to actually speakabout political issues during an election campaign is highly regulated and restricted by the government. The world is topsy-turvey. · 19 minutes ago
Frame this and make it the first inductee into the Ricochet Comment Hall of Fame.
Apr '11
Re: Egypt Charges Islamic Cleric with Insulting Religion!
Is he being charged with having a bible? Or that he burned it?
Seems like a set up...he will be punished to the fullest extent of the law. They will make an example of it and then ask what we are doing to the Movie producer?
They will claim the moral high ground. Meanwhile, they will sacrafice someone in the name of blastphemy....and yes, like the Mayans, this will be human sacrafice I am sure.
Apr '11
Re: Egypt Charges Islamic Cleric with Insulting Religion!
Essgee: Is he being charged with having a bible? Or that he burned it?
Seems like a set up...he will be punished to the fullest extent of the law. They will make an example of it and then ask what we are doing to the Movie producer?
They will claim the moral high ground. Meanwhile, they will sacrafice someone in the name of blastphemy....and yes, like the Mayans, this will be human sacrafice I am sure. · 2 hours ago
It is for burning the Bible. If I understand Egypt's law they forbid the desecration of any religious text.
@John Grant:
While I agree that the first amendment now does seem to have become a license for being an {expletive}, I don't think I could support laws trying to enforce moral decency. The enforcement of these laws in the end just leads to their use as a means of oppressing disliked minorities. Being a terrible person who thinks and says awful things about people can not be made a crime. It is best handled by purely social reprimands from the rest of society.
Apr '12
Re: Egypt Charges Islamic Cleric with Insulting Religion!
Equal opportunity reaches the Middle East.
the authorities have discovered they can dominate and criminalize others in new and interesting ways. They may not be as well meaning as the riotous authorities here in Canada but it results in the same chilling effect.
we are told which words we are not allowed to say unless you are from that group and then you can put it into rap songs and comedy routines. This muslim is the first to have his free expression prosecuted, ironic. Egypt probably thinks they are a role model to the US. maybe they were thanking Obama for his UN speech.