Arab Spring's Fresh Air
Nabil Karoui, owner of the private Nessma television station has been fined in Tunisia by a court for the sin of undermining morality and public order.The television station had screened the award-winning franco-Iranian film Persepolis. In that film, Islam was insulted as God was depicted in a drawing. It is forbidden in Islam to graphically portray Allah, considered an act of dreadful blasphemy. Apostates who so seek to degrade God are deserving of a death sentence.
However, in civil Tunisia, judgemental castigation and a fine will have to do. For the time being.
Violent Islamists who are offended by the very presence of non-Muslims, and for whom depictions of the Prophet Mohammed wearing a bomb in his turban to illustrate the hypocrisy involved in a religion claiming to be one of peace embarking on a global violent jihad to restore Islam to its rightful recognition as the only religion, feel infuriated and justified in committing bloody slaughter in the name of Islam.
The rank absurdity of their righteous indignation over Islamic values and talismans taken lightly by non-Muslims is underscored by jihadists and suicide bombers stuffing explosive devices into their turbans. All the more so since the turban is a symbol of their Islamic faith and considered to be sacred. That they themselves profane the sacredness of that symbol in their zeal to commit atrocities more than amply displays the depth of their lunatic depravity.
When the television station screened Persepolis, a film about the Iranian revolution and its aftermath as impressed upon a young girl's psyche, attacks were launched on the station's offices. Attacks also were mounted against Mr. Karoui's home by Salafists, fundamentalist, rabid Islamists.
The Tunisian court ordered Mr. Karoui to pay $1,700 for "broadcasting a film that disturbs public order and threatens proper morals." "I am very worried about the situation of freedom in Tunisia because my conviction sends a very bad message, not only nationally, but also to the entire Maghreb", announced Mr. Karoui.
As for the lawyers on either side of the debate, predictably their assertions reflect the representation of their convictions: "This verdict is an affront to the freedom of the press. We hoped for a straightforward acquittal on this World Press Freedom Day", said the lawyer for the defence.
"Mr. Karoui should have been sentenced to three to six months in prison in light of the charges", claimed the prosecuting lawyer, insisting he would look into the matter of an appeal.
And the Tunisian public? "It's appalling, 2,400 dinars for somebody who made a mockery of God and offended Muslim feelings." And, again, "People mock Allah and pretend that this is freedom of expression", expressed another outside the courtroom, well guarded by police.
Labels: Heritage, Human Relations, Islamism, Political Realities, Values
posted by Pieface @ Saturday, May 05, 2012
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