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[Onemic]

One of the more liberal-minded Saudi bloggers received this email in regards to the topic lol:

Thanks man. I'm actually planning on releasing my new album in the coming weeks. I don't plan on stopping. Ever.

Shouldn't that guy be killed for mixing up prophet with profit? I mean he's practically insinuating Muhammad is a money loving capitalist! He spelt the name wrong too :/

 

[Cyan]

what did the first round achieve?

Well, the person who came up with it had to change her name and go into hiding...

I'm not sure it accomplished its goals--or if it even had a concrete set of goals. Seemed a little OWS at times in its incoherent message.

It definitely accomplished some thought-provoking art. I won't post any here, but "Ceci n'est pas Mohammed," "Mohammed at Night," and the variety of bare stick-figures raised some interesting questions about intention, representation, and offense.

It also accomplished a lot of needless assholery, but what can you do.

 

[Roger Danish]

.

 

[Heshinsi]

I'm sorry, but I think someone that has dedicated their life to studying their religion and is officially recognized as a leader amongst his peers understands his religion a bit more than you do.

The wahabi fuckturds who run Saudi Arabia represent a crazed minority of Muslims. Most Muslims don't believe in the same garbage they do.

 

[VariantX04]

No need for donations when you can go buy his albums!

Which, P.S., are pretty awesome.

<33

Shouldn't that guy be killed for mixing up prophet with profit? I mean he's practically insinuating Muhammad is a money loving capitalist! He spelt the name wrong too :/

TO THE AUTHORITIES!

 

[Qatar]

Shouldn't that guy be killed for mixing up prophet with profit? I mean he's practically insinuating Muhammad is a money loving capitalist! He spelt the name wrong too :/

Muhammad is also written as Mohammad. Since it's an arabic name, there's no exact English spelling for the name.

 

[Despera]

I was relieved upon hearing news of his escape from this country, because only those who live here understand the consequences of sharing such thoughts with the public.

But a few hours ago I read that he's being sent back here.

I hope he escapes punishment somehow, but even if he does, there's no guaranteeing his safety. He'll have to flee the country.

His cousin, who is a well known Islamic scholar, relayed to the public that Hamza has repented and is regretting his actions. His mother and father shared a similar story as well, but some people are still demanding his head be chopped off.

It's funny because last semester in my "Human Rights in Islam" class, the focus was on both preserving life and freedom of speech...

That oxymoron, and the fucking irony.

The fucking irony

 

[Count Dookkake]

Shouldn't that guy be killed for mixing up prophet with profit? I mean he's practically insinuating Muhammad is a money loving capitalist! He spelt the name wrong too :/

thare are ruels for writing in world.

 

[Ashes]

I was relieved upon hearing news of his escape from this country, because only those who live here understand the consequences of sharing such thoughts with the public.

But a few hours ago I read that he's being sent back here.

I hope he escapes punishment somehow, but even if he does, there's no guaranteeing his safety. He'll have to flee the country.

His cousin, who is a well known Islamic scholar, relayed to the public that Hamza has repented and is regretting his actions. His mother and father shared a similar story as well, but some people are still demanding his head be chopped off.

It's funny because last semester in my "Human Rights in Islam" class, the focus was on both preserving life and freedom of speech...

That oxymoron, and the fucking irony.

The fucking irony

One of biggest news stories in the uk at the moment, (which has been overtaken by news of the England Manager job), is that a court has allowed a Muslim terrorist to remain here, granting him bail, because he faces persecution/death if we deport him*, so basically we are honouring his basic human rights. There are other terrorists here, of course, this not a special exemption, but he is a Muslim one, and a major one. The Daily Express called it our Human Rights Regime.

*retrial in Jordan, where evidence gained through torture might be used. He is currently on bail, with 22 hour curfew.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/08/abu-qatada-row-cameron-jordan

 

[VariantX04]

I was relieved upon hearing news of his escape from this country, because only those who live here understand the consequences of sharing such thoughts with the public.

But a few hours ago I read that he's being sent back here.

I hope he escapes punishment somehow, but even if he does, there's no guaranteeing his safety. He'll have to flee the country.

His cousin, who is a well known Islamic scholar, relayed to the public that Hamza has repented and is regretting his actions. His mother and father shared a similar story as well, but some people are still demanding his head be chopped off.

It's funny because last semester in my "Human Rights in Islam" class, the focus was on both preserving life and freedom of speech...

That oxymoron, and the fucking irony.

The fucking irony

I read that reports of his capture were false and that he's still somewhere in East Asia. Hope that's true. Shit's crazy how far it escalated. This will probably get the ultra-conservatives to abuse their power to silence critics and atheists.

Although a part of me is glad this is happening because it shows the world just how ridiculous conservatism in Saudi Arabia can get. People are now talking about this so I'm hopeful that one day all this nonsense will be a thing of the past. A man can dream.

 

[Ashes]

There were promises of reform a decade ago, and the Saudi people get nothing.
:/ biggest trade partner for us in the Middle East I believe.

 

[VariantX04]

There's always talk of reform but every time a King wants to change something, other powerful playmakers in the Kingdom butt in. What kills progress in this country is the heavy reliance on tribes and how they influence certain parts of the country. Hell, Saudi was named after the "Al Saud" family which makes it (I believe) the only country in the world actually named after the royal family.

 

[Despera]

Malaysian newspaper confirms his arrest: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/2/9/nation/20120209223051&sec=nation

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have detained a Saudi Arabian newspaper columnist for allegedly insulting Islam and Prophet Muhammad.

Interpol sources told Bernama, the suspect was picked up upon his arrival at KL International Airport in Sepang on Wednesday after escaping from Saudi Arabia.

The columnist, wanted by the Saudi Arabian Government, was reported to have posted an article which allegedly insulted Islam, through his social webpage, Twitter, infuriating the Saudi people.

The young Saudi writer caused a firestorm when he posted a series of tweets on the birthday of Prophet Muhammad last week.

Saudi users on Twitter erupted with outrage, posting nearly 30,000 tweets on the topic in less than 24 hours. BERNAMA

 

[Kad5]

I hate ignorant/stupid people so much.

 

[VariantX04]

Malaysian newspaper confirms his arrest: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/2/9/nation/20120209223051&sec=nation

Damn. :/

 

[Despera]

Damn. :/

Have you seen this? An Islamic song about seeking forgiveness from Allah

Presumably that's him back when he was a kid. He comes from a very religious background.

 

[lethial]

Dunno about that, but it certainly has some of the worst followers.

I feel like this post should include a drawing of muhammad to spark some faux outrage, but I'm too lazy.

Here, have an ASCII muhammad

@:-(>

GET HIM! OFF WITH HIS HEAD!

 

[VariantX04]

Have you seen this? An Islamic song about seeking forgiveness from Allah

Presumably that's him back when he was a kid. He comes from a very religious background.

Dope beat. But On a serious note, at least this may save his life. Now everyone's all conflicted haha.

 

[Guerrillas in the Mist]

Malaysian newspaper confirms his arrest: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/2/9/nation/20120209223051&sec=nation

I hope Interpol didn't coordinate this. I'd hate to be part of an organisation that allows for this shit to cross borders.

 

[Onemic]

Malaysian newspaper confirms his arrest: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/2/9/nation/20120209223051&sec=nation

Fuck, hope he's alright. What happens to most people in this situation?

 

[VariantX04]

Fuck, hope he's alright. What happens to most people in this situation?

It differs from case to case. The King just recently pardoned a man who was jailed in 1996 for blasphemy (also related to the Prophet).

 

[Onemic]

It differs from case to case. The King just recently pardoned a man who was jailed in 1996 for blasphemy (also related to the Prophet).

96?!?!? so this guy facing years in prison at the least? The fuck?

 

[Dreams-Visions]

Let's say that there is someone in the USA ( or any country) who preaches to people about how being American is terrible and that he is constantly promoting for people to revoke their rights as citizens and secede. Isn't that a danger to the country as a whole? Wouldn't you want to stop him from spreading his ideas?

is this real life?

Stalin, is that you? Fidel, did they set you up with internets?

 

[VariantX04]

96?!?!? so this guy facing years in prison at the least? The fuck?

Which is why we need people to sign this petition. Hopefully it actually makes a difference.

 

[perfectnight]

is this real life?

Stalin, is that you? Fidel, did they set you up with internets?

Lol for real.

 

[VariantX04]

Oh, brother... Saudi Sheikh weeping as he demands that Saudi Columnist Hamza Kashgari gets executed

 

[SmokyDave]

Oh, brother... Saudi Sheikh weeping as he demands that Saudi Columnist Hamza Kashgari gets executed

Farcical. Someone ought to give that mentally ill man some medicine, he's clearly in distress.

 

[spidye]

Oh, brother... Saudi Sheikh weeping as he demands that Saudi Columnist Hamza Kashgari gets executed

incredible. better not to say anything because I have nothing nice to say

 

[Gabotron ES]

21st Century...

 

[xbhaskarx]

Oh, brother... Saudi Sheikh weeping as he demands that Saudi Columnist Hamza Kashgari gets executed

Tammy Faye Baker did it first and better.

 

[7aged]

Which is why we need people to sign this petition. Hopefully it actually makes a difference.

Signed it, although I'd prefer an Arabic petition. You know any?

 

[-Plasma Reus-]

Scary situation.
Not smart though. Saying those kinds of things in Saudi Arabia of all places.

 

[xbhaskarx]

Not smart though. Saying those kinds of things in Saudi Arabia of all places.

You know what else was not smart? If you're fleeing Saudi Arabia because of fatwas and accusations of blasphemy and/or apostasy, perhaps you should go to a country that's not majority Muslim. Malaysia may be considered moderate in comparison, but they still handed this dude right over to the Saudis.

Other Muslim countries, including the world's most populous Muslim country, do not have similar configurations. The situation in Saudi Arabia is truly unique. You might find particular elements, and certainly this author's tweets would have went over poorly virtually everywhere in the North African / Arab / Persian Islamic world (I suspect South-East Asian Muslims would be comparatively more chill), but Saudi Arabia exists on its own plane entirely in terms of how it approaches law and morality.

UPDATE: A Saudi newspaper reports that Malaysian authorities have apprehended Kashghari and are now handing him over to Saudi authorities.

 

[7aged]

Malaysia is one of the few countries in the world a Saudi can go to without a visa.

In other news, it seems like the beards are going after Turki al-Hamad now, one of the most prominent of Saudi's "liberals".

 

[VariantX04]

Signed it, although I'd prefer an Arabic petition. You know any?

Sorry dude not that I know of.

 

[akira28]

There needs to be a clash between the liberals and the conservative followers of Islam. Too long there has been silence and the fear of force. If liberals realize their necks are also on the line for sitting on the fence, they'll show their numbers and let the weight of their impact be felt. It has to happen in any religion where you have such differences like this. I think it should happen. So the conservatives know that they're not the only power and not the only strength, that perhaps they're the vocal minority even.

 

[SmokyDave]

21st Century...

Not available in all regions.

 

[Casp0r]

some if these.'clerics' are nothing but hatemongers who subscribe to wahabism. An almost alien form of the religion that is propped up by the Saudi family.

The wahabi fuckturds who run Saudi Arabia represent a crazed minority of Muslims. Most Muslims don't believe in the same garbage they do.

About 85&#8211;90% of Saudis are Sunni, while Shias represent around 10&#8211;15% of the Muslim population.[195] The official and dominant form of Sunni Islam in Saudi Arabia is commonly known as Wahhabism (a name which some of its proponents consider derogatory, preferring the term Salafism[196])

Oh so that alien form of religion ... that crazed minority of Muslims ...

is only 85-90 fucking percent of the country.

SMH

There needs to be a clash between the liberals and the conservative followers of Islam. Too long there has been silence and the fear of force. If liberals realize their necks are also on the line for sitting on the fence, they'll show their numbers and let the weight of their impact be felt. It has to happen in any religion where you have such differences like this. I think it should happen. So the conservatives know that they're not the only power and not the only strength, that perhaps they're the vocal minority even.

Yet I get the awful feeling that 'liberal' portion is still in hiding as its so called 'silent' strength is really a 'silent minority'. You'd think the liberal 'majority' would get up in arms when that 'minority' is parading around the world, calling for the death of a god dam cartoonist? You'd think that liberal 'minority' would stand up and make their position on homosexuality, apostasy and religion freedom known ... ?

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see a liberal majority rise up and redefine Islam. However from everything I've seen, I can't only not see a liberal majority standing up ... I can't even see a liberal majority.

 

[Onemic]

Oh, brother... Saudi Sheikh weeping as he demands that Saudi Columnist Hamza Kashgari gets executed

Disgusting

 

[VariantX04]

Not available in all regions.

lol

 

[Feature]

Oh, brother... Saudi Sheikh weeping as he demands that Saudi Columnist Hamza Kashgari gets executed

What a fucking loser. Nothing else to say about it really...

 

[Row]

so pathetic, and I can't say I'm surprised about the malaysian authorities

Islamic officials in Malaysia warned Muslims against celebrating Valentine's Day, linking it with vice activities. Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the celebration of romantic love was "not suitable" for Muslims. Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul Aziz, head of the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), which oversees the country's Islamic policies said a fatwa (ruling) issued by the country's top clerics in 2005 noted the day 'is associated with elements of Christianity,' and 'we just cannot get involved with other religion's worshipping rituals.' Jakim officials planned to carry out a nationwide campaign called "Awas Jerat Valentine's Day"("Mind the Valentine's Day Trap"), aimed at preventing Muslims from celebrating the day on 14 February 2011. Activities include conducting raids in hotels to stop young couples from having unlawful sex and distributing leaflets to Muslim university students warning them against the day.[77][78]
On Valentine's Day 2011, Malaysian religious authorities arrested more than 100 Muslim couples concerning the celebration ban. Some of them would be charged in the Shariah Court for defying the department's ban againsts the celebration of Valentine's Day.

Just another shithole

 

[VariantX04]

Hahaha can't wait to see what our lovely religious police plan on doing on Valentine's day. I remember last year they closed down all the flower shops.

 

[Guerrillas in the Mist]

Hahaha can't wait to see what our lovely religious police plan on doing on Valentine's day. I remember last year they closed down all the flower shops.

Really? They should be called the Fun Police.

 

[Salazar]

Hahaha can't wait to see what our lovely religious police plan on doing on Valentine's day.

Bathe and shave punk rockers.

Or perhaps they only allow themselves that monumental pleasure once every year.

 

[VariantX04]

I remember them inspecting places selling anything red and forcing them to get rid of the items.

 

[amrihua]

To quote Christopher Hitchens, religion poisons everything. I say this as a skeptic who grew in a muslim family. I'm not in Saudi Arabia anymore, I visit for no more than 3 or 4 weeks every year, it is a good reminder of why I left with no intention of ever going back.

 

[akira28]

Nah, religion's cool. It's zealotry that fucks everything up. When you're raving and spitting, and have a hard on for whatever subject you're pressing, you're guaranteed to over do it. When you're creating something, or a builder of something, that zealous nature will push you into production. When you're zealous over how people should act and think, in a theocracy that uses religion as a tempering and control mechanism, you're going to become thought police guaranteed.

Overzealousness and theocracy are the problems. Not to mention general ignorance about the religion and the foundations of it and the basis behind it. Religion is still just a tool. But people would rather use it as a murder weapon to repair their hurt sensibilities than to actually use it for self improvement.


(ironically enough, Hitch was thought by many of his peers to be an overzealous anti-religionist)

Like the Republicans in America say they want to shrink the Federal government , to make it small enough to drown in a bathtub? That's what I'd like to see happen to religion. Don't do away with it entirely. Just drastically weaken it's control over politics and populace. But too many people want to play favorites with God so they can get their way into heaven. Except it doesn't work like that...

 

[Petrichor]

Nah, religion's cool. It's zealotry that fucks everything up. When you're raving and spitting, and have a hard on for whatever subject you're pressing, you're guaranteed to over do it. When you're creating something, or a builder of something, that zealous nature will push you into production. When you're zealous over how people should act and think, in a theocracy that uses religion as a tempering and control mechanism, you're going to become thought police guaranteed.

Overzealousness and theocracy are the problems. Not to mention general ignorance about the religion and the foundations of it and the basis behind it. Religion is still just a tool. But people would rather use it as a murder weapon to repair their hurt sensibilities than to actually use it for self improvement.


(ironically enough, Hitch was thought by many of his peers to be an overzealous anti-religionist)

When a religion tells you that everyone else is wrong and that your bigoted opinions are not only right or justified, but are God-given, how can that be anything other than damaging? Neither the bible nor the Quran are remotely moderate or reasonable in their teachings; it is human decency that has added that facet of modern religion. Religion is by its very nature aggressive and overzealous.

As long as the bible is hailed as some sort of tome of wisdom, there will always be people who will take it literally and go of murdering / raping in the name of God. I say it's best to get rid of it completely (puts me at odds with Dawkins)

 

[VariantX04]

To quote Christopher Hitchens, religion poisons everything. I say this as a skeptic who grew in a muslim family. I'm not in Saudi Arabia anymore, I visit for no more than 3 or 4 weeks every year, it is a good reminder of why I left with no intention of ever going back.

Are you originally from Saudi?