Monday, September 3, 2007 | Reason : Political | print version

India to charge writer Nasreen with 'hurting Muslim feelings'

by CBC

Thanks to rowed for the link.

Reposted from:
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/books/story/2007/08/14/nasreem-india.html

Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen will face criminal charges in India after being accused of stirring up religious enmity.

The charges come after Nasreen was attacked at a publication party because of opposition to a translation of her latest book, Shodh, in Hyderabad last week. Several lawmakers and members of a conservative Muslim political party threw flowers and other items at her and called for her death.

Nasreen, author of Wild Wind and Shame, is an exile from her native Bangladesh because of a fatwa against her and a threat by the government to lay charges stemming from her writing.

She lived in Sweden and France for several years, but moved to India in 2002.

In articles and books, she writes about the poor treatment of Hindus in mostly Muslim Bangladesh, and rape and mistreatment of women in Muslim societies. A police official in Hyderabad said Nasreen had been charged with "hurting Muslim feelings," according to Agence France Presse.

Under Indian law, promoting "disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill will" between religious groups is punishable by up to three years in jail.

Three legislators were charged with rioting after a police investigation into the incident at the publication party.

However, a senior member of an Islamist party registered a complaint, leading to the charges.

Nasreen has been an outspoken advocate of women's rights and opponent of sharia law.

In March, an Indian Muslim group from Uttar Pradesh state offered a bounty of 500,000 rupees ($13,000 Cdn) for her beheading.

However, human rights groups in India are arguing on her behalf.

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1. Comment #67441 by Jimill on September 3, 2007 at 12:48 pm

"...an Indian Muslim group from Uttar Pradesh state offered a bounty of 500,000 rupees ($13,000 Cdn) for her beheading."

Rioting politicians, calls for her death and a bounty for her beheading... all because their "feelings are hurt"?

Sticks and stones people!

It's so ironic how most muslims will claim they are part of a peaceful religion. All the while knowing their teacher, the "supposed" prophet Mohammed, was a war-mongering army general.

Other Comments by Jimill

2. Comment #67446 by ridelo on September 3, 2007 at 1:14 pm

I prefer that they hurt my feelings in stead of my body...

Other Comments by ridelo

3. Comment #67463 by captain underpants on September 3, 2007 at 2:02 pm

Several lawmakers and members of a conservative Muslim political party threw flowers and other items at her and called for her death ... she writes about the poor treatment of Hindus in mostly Muslim Bangladesh, and rape and mistreatment of women in Muslim societies.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taslima_Nasrin:

In 1994, organised groups identified with Islamic fundamentalists demanded her execution by hanging after she was quoted in The Statesman stating that "... the Koran should be revised thoroughly."

And we atheists have to put up with being called fundamentalists for criticising such divinely inspired hatred.

Here is an online petition to defend Taslima Nasrin:

http://www.petitiononline.com/Taslima1/petition.html

Other Comments by captain underpants

4. Comment #67469 by roach on September 3, 2007 at 2:22 pm

Criminal charges for rabble rousing? Unreal.

I suppose Christians can sue Muslims for denying that Jesus is the son of God, Muslims can sue Christians for denying that Muhammad is God's Prophet, and Jews can sue both parties for claiming that the Last Prophet has already appeared.

Other Comments by roach

5. Comment #67478 by anshul on September 3, 2007 at 2:50 pm

As an Indian I can only say that I feel helpless. There is no howto that tells you how to get a stupid law changed. I wish I could do something more than just blog about it. :(

Other Comments by anshul

6. Comment #67480 by Fanusi Khiyal on September 3, 2007 at 3:00 pm

The Religion of Peace rears its head once more. You know, given what India went through under Muslim rule, I'd think that they'd not react too kindly to this kind of bullying.

Other Comments by Fanusi Khiyal

7. Comment #67486 by nancy2001 on September 3, 2007 at 3:11 pm

The world would be so much better off without the Muslim religion.

Other Comments by nancy2001

8. Comment #67495 by Russell Blackford on September 3, 2007 at 3:38 pm

India is so often held up to the world as a model democracy, but in many ways it is still a repressive society. The best that can be said for it is that it's a lot less repressive than Pakistan.

I signed the petition after some consideration. I do wish such petitions were kept shorter so that people don't have to worry about whether they agree with every thought, or whether they have enough knowledge to do so.

Other Comments by Russell Blackford

9. Comment #67496 by BigJohn on September 3, 2007 at 3:38 pm

nancy2001

"The world would be so much better off without the Muslim religion."

Should read: The world would be so much better off without ~~the Muslim~~ religion.

Other Comments by BigJohn

10. Comment #67504 by dancingthemantaray on September 3, 2007 at 3:55 pm

Yeah, but Islam is a much greater threat to the world than any other religion, is much more violent and openly repressive to women.

Other Comments by dancingthemantaray

11. Comment #67512 by icanus on September 3, 2007 at 4:12 pm

Several lawmakers and members of a conservative Muslim political party threw flowers and other items at her and called for her death.

Nasreen will face criminal charges

Am I missing something here, or do these two statements not add up?

Other Comments by icanus

12. Comment #67513 by automath on September 3, 2007 at 4:18 pm

Let me see if I have this right, according to John Humphrys we should play this down so as not to upset the Buchanans and the millions like them, after all we don't want to draw peoples attention to the realities of the world around them.

Other Comments by automath

13. Comment #67533 by Crazymalc on September 3, 2007 at 6:04 pm

You hurt our feelings, therefore we behead you.

*shakes head in disbelief*

Reminds me of the furor over those Mohammed cartoons in Denmark. You drew a picture and we'll riot causing much damage and the loss of 12 (?) lives

Other Comments by Crazymalc

14. Comment #67537 by PrimeNumbers on September 3, 2007 at 6:32 pm

First, we need a new conscience raiser - "The religion of peace". Should be challenged whenever heard, with "Muslims are not peaceful."

Secondly, I think the very existance of Muslims is offensive. Their belief system is offensive to human dignity, their holy book offensive full stop. Before a single Muslim says they're offended, or that they've got hurt feelings or whatever they're winging on about this week, they should stop and look at their religion and their book and how their existance offends humanity.

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15. Comment #67542 by kraut on September 3, 2007 at 6:44 pm

"and look at their religion and their book and how their existance offends humanity."

Just have a read through the septics annotated bible and read about the violence, ethnic cleansing, believe in ones tribes superiority, child and wife abuse, hatred of other religions, of foreigners etc. This seems to be all too common to all of the religions sprouting from this half desiccated area.

Maybe it is the poverty of the land that inflames the brain with an almost absolut hatred of anything that is not of ones own tribe, of ones own belief. Tolerance is not something one applies to either jewish, christian or the muslim religion.

Other Comments by kraut

16. Comment #67546 by PeterK on September 3, 2007 at 7:05 pm

"Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen will face criminal charges in India after being accused of stirring up religious enmity."

as long as laws such as this still exist on this planet, mankind could never be considered 'civilized'

Other Comments by PeterK

17. Comment #67549 by EvolvedDNA on September 3, 2007 at 7:19 pm

Lets not fret.. thousands of Muslims will be protesting this outrage once they hear of the threats to Taslima as this will give Islam another black eye... yeh right. What is it with Islam and decapitation anyway,,, is the only way they can think of in getting a head in life?

Other Comments by EvolvedDNA

18. Comment #67553 by wolf mechanics on September 3, 2007 at 7:26 pm

This is exactly the sort of thing that the phrase "WTF" was invented for.

Under Indian law, promoting "disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill will" between religious groups is punishable by up to three years in jail.

Even if you look past the glaring unfairness of this law only applying "between religious groups", and the fact that if you replaced this phrase with "towards all and sundry" there wouldn't be enough prisons to hold all the muslim offenders, HOW IS ISLAM NOT INHERENTLY BREAKING THIS LAW EVEN AS IT STANDS NOW?!

Other Comments by wolf mechanics

19. Comment #67558 by Solarium Solaris on September 3, 2007 at 7:39 pm

"Several lawmakers and members of a conservative Muslim political party threw flowers and other items at her and called for her death."

Am I missing something here? Calling for the poor girls death whilst flinging flowers at her? Seems like a very mixed message. Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely glad that that is what they threw at her, but if they were so furiated would it not make more sense to use bottles and rocks?

Other Comments by Solarium Solaris

20. Comment #67566 by sabre_truth on September 3, 2007 at 8:21 pm

I can understand, given India's history, why it would have a law of this kind. It is not just Muslims, but also Hindus and to some degree Sikhs who have engaged in sectarian violence there. They are very nervous about those kinds of things being stirred up.

That being said, I still reject any such law on principle as a restriction of freedom of expression. It is the same way I feel about the laws against "Holocaust denial" in several European countries.

What they need is enforcement of laws against real crimes. If someone is being harassed and threatened, they should be protected and the perpetrators punished. If there is rioting between Muslims and Hindus, the mobs should be rounded up and jailed.

The great irony is it is Nasreen herself who is the victim here, who should be protected against these barbarians, yet she is being charged with a crime for simply voicing her opinion. Insanity.

Other Comments by sabre_truth

21. Comment #67572 by Vinelectric on September 3, 2007 at 8:41 pm

The world would be so much better off without the Muslim religion.

First, we need a new conscience raiser - "The religion of peace". Should be challenged whenever heard, with "Muslims are not peaceful.

Secondly, I think the very existance of Muslims is offensive.

There's a feeling in the muslim world that that has been the attitude all along, way before the emergence of the current wave of fudamentalism. There are several predominantely muslim countries where thousands of non-muslims/westerners are truly welcome: Malaysia, Morocco, Tunisia, Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan and other popular holiday destinations. To conclude that the millions of good people who inhabit these countries are as worthless as the irrresponsible mob who threw the flowers (!!) at the Bangladeshi writer probably says more about those who write such drivel than their victims.

Other Comments by Vinelectric

22. Comment #67575 by Sittingduck on September 3, 2007 at 9:10 pm

blockquote>To conclude that the millions of good people who inhabit these countries are as worthless as the irrresponsible mob who threw the flowers (!!) at the Bangladeshi writer probably says more about those who write such drivel than their victims.

I agree that it makes little sense to make sweeping generalizations about Islam, but at some point it would be helpful to hear peace loving muslims condem these outrageous actions.
You just never hear people of authority within Islam condem the violent wingnuts. Why is that?
Event after event and nothing...

Other Comments by Sittingduck

23. Comment #67577 by PRJ on September 3, 2007 at 9:48 pm

As an Indian, I am appalled by this. The Indian government - specifically the Congress government (the government currently in power at the centre and the state) is terrified of "hurting the sentiments" of the Muslim "minority community". Hence, they don't care if other freedoms are lost, so long as the Muslims aren't offended. It's known as "vote-bank" politics in India.

But this also needs some historical context. Millions died in the partition following independence, and hence, Indian governments are always wary of small incidents turning into savage "communal riots". The tragedy is that militancy in Islam is provoking fundamentalism in other religions. The Christian school that I attended was started by the British (pre independence), and is owned/controlled by a powerful church. There was little preaching or evangelism when I attended. Though children of Christian parents had to compulsorily attend Chapel, we (children of non-Christian parents) were free to attend Chapel only if we wanted to. Now, the school has changed its policy and the Bible is now a taught subject; ALL kids have to pass a Bible exam.

Other Comments by PRJ

24. Comment #67583 by Edanator on September 3, 2007 at 11:39 pm

"Several lawmakers and members of a conservative Muslim political party threw flowers and other items at her and called for her death."

"In March, an Indian Muslim group from Uttar Pradesh state offered a bounty of 500,000 rupees ($13,000 Cdn) for her beheading."

Aren't life-threats illegal? A political party openly calling for the death of someone should be banned immediately and it's leaders charged. If you offer money to have someone killed you should be charged for attempted murder. Basically the muslim group is looking to hire an anonymous killer.

Other Comments by Edanator

25. Comment #67591 by hungarianelephant on September 4, 2007 at 12:43 am

Summary: Don't say we're not a religion of peace. Or we'll kill you. Allahu Akbar!

Other Comments by hungarianelephant

26. Comment #67592 by Veronique on September 4, 2007 at 12:57 am

Sitting Duck

Check your blockquote instructions. I have only recently learned how to do this so I am chuffed.

big smile
Cheers
V

Other Comments by Veronique

27. Comment #67597 by HunterZolomon on September 4, 2007 at 1:20 am

I recall a protesting muslim described in The God Delusion bearing a sign that said "Behead those who claim Islam is a violent religion". Still my favorite.

Other Comments by HunterZolomon

28. Comment #67598 by Jiten on September 4, 2007 at 1:26 am

Funny that as all the right-wing hindu politicians are freely doing just this.

Other Comments by Jiten

29. Comment #67601 by Vaal on September 4, 2007 at 1:32 am

Please please please can some brave muslim produce the equivalent of the "Life of Brian". I would love to see a muslim equivalent of Dave Allen.

The only way to deal with this "offense culture" and to respond to this primitive mindless retrogade religion is to show it up as the nonsense it really is, with humour and satire.

Other Comments by Vaal

30. Comment #67602 by Philip1978 on September 4, 2007 at 1:36 am

I signed the petition and left a comment questioning the need to behead those who disagree with others and then came up with a rather odd thought.

Islam means peace yes? These fundamentalist monkeys scream rant and yell that its a religion of peace till they are nice shade of puce. I finally understand what the peace is referring to- Infidels. They want peace by eradication of anything that disagrees with their world view. Once the Infidels are off the planet, yippie its peace time! Hows that for a theory?

Philip

Other Comments by Philip1978

31. Comment #67604 by Quetzalcoatl on September 4, 2007 at 1:46 am

Philip-

afraid not. Once all the infidels have been eradicated, it will then be time to "re-educate" all the Muslims who do not practice Islam in precisely the right way.

As a side note, I wonder how many Muslim groups in India have been charged with hurting Hindu feelings.

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32. Comment #67607 by Flagellant on September 4, 2007 at 2:07 am

notsobad has a great avatar on this thread:(http://richarddawkins.net/article,1599,The-God-Delusion-One-Year-Countdown,RichardDawkinsnet , comment 5). Very relevant!

Truly, God is grott, merdeiful.

Other Comments by Flagellant

33. Comment #67608 by chezzyd on September 4, 2007 at 2:15 am

Prime Numbers : "I think the very existance of Muslims is offensive"

Islam the belief system is open to ridicule, but individual Muslims are another proposition altogether. Remember, the more ignorant ones have either been brainwashed since birth and many others are too scared to say what they really think. There are many good Muslim people, despite the teachings of their religion. So instead of the apologies or resounding silences we are getting from our governments on this issue, we should be strongly defending secularism and freedom of expression so that dissenters can speak. Our freedom IS something worth fighting for!! Just ask the brave people who fought Hitler.

Other Comments by chezzyd

34. Comment #67611 by Philip1978 on September 4, 2007 at 2:28 am

Quetz,
Damn, I thought I was onto to something there, back to the drawing board!

Vaal, I'd love it if someone did make such a film just to see the look on their faces! Call it the Life of Geoff or something and then claim afterwards that Mohammed was not portrayed in it anywhere!

I do hope this brave woman is going to be ok, I think she is doing such an amazing thing in standing up to Islam, I have always thought women should stand up to the barbarism and chauvinism that this religion encourages because I see it as one of the ways of bringing Islam down a few notches. I know its a fools hope but I it still makes sense to me

Philip

Other Comments by Philip1978

35. Comment #67646 by Logicel on September 4, 2007 at 5:29 am

captain underpants, thanks for the link to the petition, which I have signed (though I certainly agree with Russell B that the language was a bit wonky at times).

Humans get their morality from the same source--we evolved to feel empathy. Hence, people who happen to be Muslim are moral. So, I would say that the majority of Muslim practitioners are probably just fine people. However, religion is known to enable good people to do bad, and Islam in its present rabid form, can cause such good people to do terrible things, hence the heavy criticism directed at Islam, including the criticism voiced by Nasreen.

Several lawmakers and members of a conservative Muslim political party threw flowers and other items at her and called for her death.

_________

Apparently, the custom is to provide flowers before the actual death?

Other Comments by Logicel

36. Comment #67649 by Peacebeuponme on September 4, 2007 at 5:58 am

Flagellant - much as I think its a great avatar (an oxymoronic as "Islam is peace") pretty sure its a photoshop (maybe you already know that):

http://michellemalkin.com/2006/02/03/in-their-own-words/

About three pics down

Other Comments by Peacebeuponme

37. Comment #67663 by Silviu Gherman on September 4, 2007 at 8:33 am

Pointing out Muslims who disregard human rights and criticism has become a routine, yet nothing substantial happens. I guess that if the situation remains the same (say within 20 or 30 years) we'll have a dull future.

Other Comments by Silviu Gherman

38. Comment #67665 by steveroot on September 4, 2007 at 8:53 am

19. Comment #67558 by Solarium Solaris on September 3, 2007 at 7:39 pm
"Several lawmakers and members of a conservative Muslim political party threw flowers and other items at her and called for her death."

Am I missing something here? Calling for the poor girls death whilst flinging flowers at her? Seems like a very mixed message.

It's not the flowers- it's the pots they're in!
Steve

Other Comments by steveroot

39. Comment #67669 by Flagellant on September 4, 2007 at 9:38 am

With respect to my Comment 32, Peacebeuponme (36) - I'm pretty sure that notsobad's photo/avatar is genuine; I seem to recollect that this was one of the photos taken at a London demonstration against the Danish cartoons. Four of the demonstrators have been imprisoned for their parts in the demo. If I remember correctly, the sentences were for incitement to murder and were for three or four years. Here's the link to the story: http://www.guardian.co.uk/religion/Story/0,,2129235,00.html .

Veritably, God is grott, merdeiful.
[Minor edit for clarity, link added.]

Other Comments by Flagellant

40. Comment #67689 by 82abhilash on September 4, 2007 at 11:13 am

India does have a law that infringes on people's rights to free speech and free expression, in the case of religion, even to the extent of banning books. The law was enacted to prevent all the riots that seem to spring up wherever Muslims begin to concentrate. It is to their advantage of course. This poor woman is being charged under that law.

Well in 1984, someone filed a case in Calcutta using this same law to claim that the Quran promoted religious disharmony and several interesting things happened. This story was made into a book, which is still banned in India. But you can read it online:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Calcutta_Quran_Petition

http://voiceofdharma.org/books/tcqp/

It is truly appalling the extent to which the democratically elected government of India is willing to bend for these thugs and their filthy religion, giving away their freedoms little at a time.

Other Comments by 82abhilash

41. Comment #67694 by nrvous on September 4, 2007 at 11:58 am

Reminds me of a recent Hitchens speech in which he said (I'm paraphrasing) "When someone tells me I've hurt their feelings my response is, 'I'm still waiting to hear your point.'"

Sounds like we need to call the Wa-a-a-ambulance for these clowns.

Other Comments by nrvous

42. Comment #67697 by nrvous on September 4, 2007 at 12:01 pm

(Also, on a totally unrelated point, I was just struck by the odd double meaning of the word 'Submit' on the talkboards here. Seems to me that the button we click on when we have something to say should be emblazoned with a less loaded term -- 'Post,' perhaps?)

Other Comments by nrvous

43. Comment #67753 by Jonathan Dore on September 4, 2007 at 4:05 pm

Philip1978 (Comment 30):

Islam means peace yes?

In fact, no: "Islam" actually means "submission".

Let that sink in a little.

Frightening, isn't it?

Other Comments by Jonathan Dore

44. Comment #67824 by Philip1978 on September 5, 2007 at 12:30 am

Jonathon

Yikes, we are both right, I just checked on http://www.barghouti.com/islam/meaning.html

"Islam is derived from the Arabic root "Salema": peace, purity, submission and obedience. In the religious sense, Islam means submission to the will of God and obedience to His law."

That is nasty!

Other Comments by Philip1978

45. Comment #67872 by Jonathan Dore on September 5, 2007 at 3:51 am

Thanks Philip, I hadn't realized that. So in Arabic "peace" and "submission" are essentially interchangeable -- which is even more scary! Would be interesting to know if that dual meaning pre-dated Islam or not.

Reminds me of the words of the Pictish chief Calgacus (according to Tacitus), describing the Roman Empire:

They make a wilderness, and call it "peace".

I guess they don't call it "pacification" for nothing!

Other Comments by Jonathan Dore

46. Comment #113213 by Sunnysgrewal on January 19, 2008 at 12:32 am

They partitioned an area that was culturally part of south asia to appease muslims.....and they still are not happy. Wow.

Other Comments by Sunnysgrewal