Journalist Arrested By Interpol For Tweet

New submitter StarWreck writes "Police in Kuala Lumpur detained Hamza Kashgari, 23, 'following a request made to us by Interpol' on behalf of the Saudi authorities. Kashgari, a newspaper columnist, fled Saudi Arabia after posting a tweet which read: 'I have loved things about you and I have hated things about you and there is a lot I don't understand about you I will not pray for you.' Said tweet sparked outrage in Saudi Arabia and resulted in multiple death threats. Kashgari faces the death penalty in Saudi Arabia."

Comments

and where is exactly the problem?

[Anonymous Coward]

Can someone enlighten me, please?

Re:and where is exactly the problem?

[NIN1385]

This is exactly the type of extremism that turns me away from religion, and that applies to all forms of it. To threaten death, or other forms of punishment for saying something... I just have the feeling if God or Allah or whatever deity were to reveal them-self, or return to us or whatever they would probably be like: "WTF are you people doing?"

Just my opinion though.

Re:and where is exactly the problem?

[SaXisT4LiF]

According to the article, the tweet in question was a reference to the Prophet Muhammud. In some parts of the word, disavowing the religion of the majority (apostasy) can be punishable by death. Interpol's compliance in this act violates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which Interpol itself is tasked with upholding by its constitution.

Re:and where is exactly the problem?

[Jah-Wren Ryel]

Such extremism isn't the sole domain of the religious, and I say that as an atheist. The assholes will always find some way to legitimize their assholeness, if not religion then some other idealogy like nationalism, racism, economics, etc.

Re:and where is exactly the problem?

[OeLeWaPpErKe]

In Western theological terms, that's like saying that Christ is an inspirational person with some really interesting teachings, but not the Son of God.

There are days you see this five times before breakfast ... and yet no killings, no nothing.

It's called "freedom of religion". Muslims demand it from others, like the west, so why do they get to do this ?

Re:and where is exactly the problem?

[canadian_right]

Stalin did NOT collect stamps. This lack of stamp collecting was of course the main reason his leadership led to some much death and suffering. We must immediately promote stamp collecting to stop this sort of grievous crime from every happening again.

Much of the world has "illegal speech"

[RightSaidFred99]

And it's not just those backwards fools everyone in the middle east talks about. There are upstanding, progressive regimes in Europe where there are literally things you can say that don't involve a threat of violence or which won't cause immediate danger to those around you ("I'm going to kill you!" or "Fire!") which are still considered illegal.

It's cute because these same nations are held up by many as paragons of virtue in terms of human rights, health care, standard of living, etc... Just don't voice an illegal opinion and you'll be fine, that's all.

Re:Much of the world has "illegal speech"

[Old VMS Junkie]

There's a big difference between threats or statements that might endanger the safety of others and someone stating their feelings towards a religious figure. Just another sign of the Muslim world's complete intolerance, total lack of religious freedom, and complete lack of respect for human life and dignity.

Re:Bad title.

[Teun]

By their own rules Interpol is not supposed to intervene on the grounds mentioned.

The fact Saudi Arabia has an inhumane legal system is widely known and as long as we want their oil it is not likely to change, but Interpol has done something against the moral values enshrined in their own constitution and the persons responsible should be challenged.

Fuck you all

[future assassin]

I'm just gonna say it right out. Fuck Muhammad and Islam, Fuck Jesus and Christianity and Fuck you and all religions where you have to pray to show devotion and destroy your enemies. Got to love this world. One one side you're getting fucked by your government, right next to it you are getting fucked by corporation and right next to that you're a target some some fucking religious freaks that instead of keeping away from you and minding their own business are trying to enslave or kill you.

Problem here is "racism"

[OeLeWaPpErKe]

The problem with this statement is very simple. If you actually implement this, you are basically making it impossible for muslims to live their religion. It is how their culture works and self-polices. Cut this out, and you destroy it.

Additionally, this is no joke. Saudis and a lot of muslims will scream (quite literally sometimes) about racism if you criticise their attitude towards "hate speech" (executing anyone they perceive as insulting, and there's plenty of example where the person didn't even say anything, it was just "generally thought" (sometimes because of lying) that he said/did/... something). Reading the actual primary sources of the religion, it's plain and obvious that this is how islam works, and they're vastly more flexible than the muslim example. The prophet had people buried in sand in the desert to watch them die for criticizing him.

Cutting out this means flat out declaring the central figure of islam to be an inhuman moronic, cruel paedophilic bastard.

Of course, that's exactly what he was.

Until we face this reality, and force muslims to accept people saying this everywhere on this world, this won't end.

Re:Problem here is "racism"

[OeLeWaPpErKe]

I have very few problems with invisible wizards, provided they do not order large mobs to kill others.

Needless to say, islam's invisible wizard is found lacking.

Re:Problem here is "racism"

[greenlead]

Ummm... no. Most Christians (and Jews) do not accept Islam as legitimate.