Islam And The West

On his last visit to Iraq former American President George W. Bush was attacked by thirty year old Iraq journalist Muntadar al-Zeidi.

The attack recorded live and viewed by millions around the world involved al-Zeidi throwing his shoes at the American President while George W. Bush at a press conference in Baghdad.

Since the attack Muntadar al-Zeidi has been detained and awaiting trial. Now the Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper through it’s website is reporting that al-Zeidi’s trial date has been set. The charge against the Iraqi is assaulting a foreign leader:

“The Iraqi journalist who threw shoes at former President George W. Bush will face trial Feb. 19 on the original charge of assaulting a foreign leader, a judicial official…..

..Muntadhar al-Zeidi, 30, who is considered a hero by many Iraqis for his protest, has been in custody since the Dec. 14 outburst at Bush’s joint news conference with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

He had been due to face a trial in December on a charge of assaulting a foreign leader but his defense team won a delay as it sought to reduce the charges to simply insulting Bush.

But Bayrkdar told The Associated Press that the trial will begin on Feb. 19 and the charge of assaulting a foreign leader will stand….

…The judicial spokesman refused to say what penalties al-Zeidi could face if convicted, saying “it’s up to the court.” The defense has said the assault charge carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

“We were hoping that the charges would be reduced before the start of court proceedings,” said Abdul-Hamid al-Saeh, al-Zeidi’s employer and the Cairo-based director of al-Baghdadia satellite channel.

“We stress again that Muntadhar’s case puts before the government a challenge that any democratic state must deal when it comes to an expression of opinion,” he told The Associated Press by telephone.

Al-Zeidi’s brother, Dhargham, said the family has not yet been informed of the trial date.

He also reiterated complaints that relatives and lawyers have been denied access to al-Zeidi, saying authorities turned down the family’s request to meet with al-Zeidi on Thursday.

“This court works according to orders from the Cabinet,” the brother said, expressing fear that al-Zeidi could face the death penalty. “He has been deprived of his simplest rights.”

Al-Zeidi’s family claims he was beaten and tortured in detention.” (Source: Sharq Al-Awsat)

For more on the shoe attack see:

• Video: George W. Bush Escapes A Shoe Attack
• Al-Jazeera Video:Iraqis Demonstrate Over Bush “Shoe Attacker”
• Video: Fox News Rips Into Bush “Shoe-Attacker”
• Video: Laura Bush Not Amused By Shoe Assault

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“Israel may have the right to put others on trial, but certainly no one has the right to put the Jewish people and the State of Israel on trial” ~ Ariel Sharon

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Geert Wilders has been a regularly mentioned on this blog over a number years. For those who do not know Wilders is the Islam-hating leader of the Dutch “Party For Freedom.” He has made numerous statements against Islam including comparing the Qur’an to Mein Kampf and calling for it be banned in the Netherlands.

Wilders will be charged with incitement to hatred and discrimination and insulting Islamic worshippers. They relate to Fitna an anti-Islam “film” made by the Dutch politician.

The decision to prosecute Wilders comes courteous of the Appeal Court in Amsterdam overturning an earlier decision by the Dutch Prosecutor’s Office not to charge him:

“Party for Freedom (PVV) leader Geert Wilders will be prosecuted for “incitement to hatred and discrimination” and “insult of Islamic worshippers”. The appeal court in Amsterdam ruled yesterday that the Public Prosecutor’s Office (OM) must bring a case against the MP….

…The appeal court considers “that the contested views of Wilders (also as shown in his movie Fitna) constitute a criminal offence according to Dutch law as seen in connection with each other, both because of their contents and the method of presentation. This method of presentation is characterized by biased, strongly generalizing phrasings with a radical meaning, ongoing reiteration and an increasing intensity, as a result of which hate is created.”

Furthermore, “most statements are insulting as well since these statements substantially harm the religious esteem of the Islamic worshippers.” (…) Also, “the instigation of hatred in a democratic society constitutes such a serious matter that a general interest is at stake in order to draw a clear boundary in the public debate.”

…In an opinion piece in De Volkskrant, Wilders wrote among other things: “I have had enough of Islam in the Netherlands: no new Muslim immigrants anymore. I have had enough of the worship of Allah and Mohammed in the Netherlands: No more new mosques. I have had enough of the Koran in the Netherlands: Ban that Fascist book.”

….The appeal court concluded that “the way in which the public debate about controversial issues is held, such as the immigration and integration debate, does not fall within the ambit of the law in principle indeed. But the situation changes when fundamental boundaries are exceeded. Then criminal law does appear as well.” (Source: NIS News Bulletin)

Its rather amusing that a man who wants to ban the Qur’an as he sees it as being inflammatory would then go on to bleat about his own lack of freedom to express.

For more on Greet Wilders see:

• Geert Wilders Says “I don’t hate Muslims”
• Even Christians Turn On Geert Wilders
• Now Dutch Business Turns On Geert Wilders
• Freedom Of Expression: Geert Wilders Versus Bruno Guigue
• E.U. Parliament Bans Wilders Attempt To Spread Fitna
• Video: Geert Wilders Takes On BBC’s Hardtalk

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With a ceasefire to anti-terror operations called by Israel in the Gaza strip hopes are rising that some sort of permanent solution can be found to the current crisis.

During the last 3 weeks of intense air bombardment followed by an invasion of ground troops the world has had to “suffer” countless protests whether they be pro-Israel or pro-Gaza. Cities throughout the world have not only seen cases of near-rioting but also of calls for mass killings.

A demonstration that took place on Saturday in Rome, the capital city of Italy has provoked the ire of Italy’s ruling party. During the event in front of the Colosseum around 50 Muslims prayed. Political response has been swift with Maurizio Gasparri,a Senate whip for the Freedom Party calling the act threatening and intimidatory:

“A group of Muslims who prayed in front of the Colosseum during a protest march against the Israeli offensive in Gaza this weekend was accused of threatening behaviour by centre-right politicians on Monday….

…Around 50 Muslims knelt with their backs to the Roman amphitheatre and prayed towards Mecca….

Image source: C Carlstead

…”The pseudo-prayers in Milan and in front of the Colosseum are nothing to do with religion – they are threatening and intimidatory acts towards the Italian people,” said Maurizio Gasparri, Senate whip for Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s People of Freedom (PDL) party.

”Those who take part should be identified by the police and possibly expelled from our country. People mustn’t use prayer as a political weapon”.

A former interior minister and chairman of parliament’s Anti-Mafia Commission, Beppe Pisanu, described the incidents in Milan and Rome as ”a fundamentalist operation, the preliminaries of terrorism.” (Source: Ansa)

As a child I learned my fair share of classics. I remember studying works such as The Iliad and reading about the might of the Roman Empire. During the latter half of my education I also looked at the rise of fascism in Italy and Germany. So it is with great surprise that I read this news article. How could such a once proud and powerful nation be threatened and intimidated by 50 people praying ? I have my own explanation for this situation but what do you think the reason/reasons are for this apparent state of affairs ?

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Let me tell you something that we Israelis have against Moses. He took us 40 years through the desert in order to bring us to the one spot in the Middle East that has no oil! ~ Golda Meir

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