Indonesian Atheist Jailed for Prophet Mohammed Cartoons

[rug]

June 14, 2012

An Indonesian man arrested after writing “God doesn’t exist” on his Facebook page was jailed for 30 months Thursday for sharing explicit material about the Prophet Mohammed online.

Alexander Aan, 30, was found guilty of “deliberately spreading information inciting religious hatred and animosity,” presiding judge Eka Prasetya Budi Dharma told the Muaro Sijunjung district court in western Sumatra.

Aan started an atheist group on Facebook on which he shared comic strips of the prophet having sex with his servant, Dharma said.

He also uploaded three articles on his account, including one describing the prophet being attracted to his daughter-in-law.

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/indonesian-atheist-jailed-for-prophet-mohammed-cartoons/524376

[struggle4progress]

1. ... Presiding judge Eka Prasetya Budi Dharma said Alexander had been proven guilty of defaming Islam

and insulting the Prophet Muhammad through his Facebook account and a fan page titled Ateis Minang (Minang Atheist).

Prosecutors previously sought 3.5 years’ imprisonment without a fine for Alex.

“We considered he acted deliberately, as he did not delete [the information] after protestors reported it to police; whereas he, as an administrator of the fan page, was able to do that,” Eka said.

The judge cited several sentences deemed defamatory, such as Muhammad tertarik kepada menantunya sendiri (Muhammad was attracted to his own daughter-in-law) and Kisah Nabi Muhammad bersenggama dengan babu istrinya (The story of Prophet Muhammad having sexual intercourse with his wife’s maid) ...

‘Minang atheist’ sentenced to 2.5 years in prison
Syofiardi Bachyul Jb, The Jakarta Post, Padang
Thu, 06/14/2012 9:31 PM
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/06/14/minang-atheist-sentenced-25-years-prison.html

[msongs]

2. people with insecure beliefs in fear based religions must oppress all opposition nt

[2ndAmForComputers]

3. Do you think Mr. Aan is a bigot?

[rug]

4. Why would you ask?

Why don't you ask me if I think you're a bigot?

[2ndAmForComputers]

5. I already asked that and got the usual smokescreen, so I'm asking a different question.

So, do you?

[rug]

6. You haven't answered my question.

[2ndAmForComputers]

12. Yes I have. The subject of my previous post above, before the comma, is the answer.

[rug]

14. No. You haven't.

The question is, "Why would you ask?"

[2ndAmForComputers]

16. I made my question before you made yours.

(Geez, and I am the evasive one.)

[rug]

17. Ok, the stupid alarm just went off.

I'm done.

[Goblinmonger]

20. Well, the

"I'm evasive and rather than answer a question I will resort to personal attacks" alarm just went off.

[rug]

21. Did something wake you?

[2ndAmForComputers]

22. Obviously, the stupid alarm did.

[rug]

23. It's good to see you alert.

[2ndAmForComputers]

24. Have a nice day.

[rug]

25. You too.

[humblebum]

7. The sentence is overly harsh, but it's clear that he went beyond

expressing his non-belief to purposely ridiculing the beliefs of others. So yes, he fits the definition of a bigot.

[Goblinmonger]

8. So if someone were to say

that all Muslims are dumbassess, that would make that person a bigot?

[humblebum]

9. I suppose its a matter of opinion, but if it matches the definition of bigotry...

If I said the same about all atheists, I'd be bleeped immediately and labeled a bigot. Of that I have little doubt.

[2ndAmForComputers]

11. You seriously believe "All Muslims are dumbasses/All Christians are dumbasses" would NOT be hidden?

Really?

[humblebum]

13. Where did I say that or even suggest it?

[2ndAmForComputers]

15. Have a nice day.

[Goblinmonger]

18. What about all creationists are dumbasses? n/t

[2ndAmForComputers]

19. Well, that would be just a statement of fact.

[daaron]

10. He didn't ridicule it.

He shared information about traditions in Islamic literature which have existed for centuries, all of which was created by someone else. Is it ridiculing Judaism to point out how many of the prophets and kings impregnated and raped unwilling women repeatedly, keeping them as chattel? I read the cartoon, and it's like an Illustrated Bible depicting, word for word, a story from the Koran. The mere fact that it depicts the Prophet at all is the 'ridicule' and standard for bigotry that was applied to Mr. Aan. I'm not sure anyone ought to be calling Mr. Aan a bigot here in the U.S. of A.. It comes off as ignorant and intentionally inflammatory. Not sure why anyone would want to start a flame war, but... I guess we each use the internet in our own way.

Personally, I'm a big fan of Rule #14.