In the same week as the assault on free speech in Paris due to an insult on Islam, a Saudi blogger received first 50 of 1,000 court-ordered lashes of sentence for insulting Islam. In Iran, Atena Farghadani, a civil rights activist, received a beating in the Islamic Revolutionary court with her parents present for insulting the Supreme religious leader. These are two examples to underscore that the culture of intolerance to dissenting voices is not limited to disgruntled Muslims in the diaspora by any means. It is institutionalized and systemic, it is government sponsored and promoted as a means to instill fear in others who dare speak, and it is a reminder of the long road ahead in much of majority Muslim countries in recognizing and honoring one of the most basic of human rights.
Posted on: Sun, 11 Jan 2015 14:22:28 +0000
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