Wednesday, May 23, 2012

12/09/07 Opinion-Editorial, published in The Oregonian (Oregon)

(Printed in the The Oregonian, Dec 9, 2007, as an Opinion-Editorial)

'Muhammad' case in Sudan a travesty of Muslims' tenets

Sunday, December 09, 2007
HARRIS ZAFAR

(Click Here for Original Article)

As with most people, I was shocked about the arrest of Gillian Gibbons, the British schoolteacher in Sudan , for allowing her class to name a teddy bear "Muhammad."

In an embarrassing display of literal law enforcement, the Sudanese government charged Gibbons under Article 125 with blasphemy for insulting the prophet of Islam and inciting hatred. If found guilty, Gibbons could have faced six months in jail, 40 lashes and a fine.
But to even consider that Islam condones this type of punishment is a crime in itself. Sudan has made the same mistake that other Muslim countries have made in its application of Islamic Shariah law. No Muslim country has done it correctly yet. Isn't that surprising?

Chapter 42, verse 41 of the Holy Quran states:
"The recompense of an injury is an injury the like thereof; but whoso forgives and thereby brings about an improvement, his reward is with God."

This forms the basis of the penal laws in Islam. It explains that the true objective of giving punishment to the guilty person is for their moral reformation. If forgiveness is seen to do the person moral good, they should be forgiven. If punishment is likely to lead to their reformation, they should be punished. In such a case, however, the Quran clearly states that the punishment should not be disproportionate to the crime committed. Clearly, Sudan 's interpretation of the law does not follow this Islamic injunction.

Penal code divisions in many countries deal with religious sensitivities. Blasphemy laws remain in existence, such as in the United Kingdom , for restricting public criticism of faith. This shows us that such an act is something most of the world agrees needs to be stopped.
But there is a difference between how blasphemy laws are enforced in Muslim countries compared to the rest of the world. Sudan's Article 125 is similar to Pakistan 's Articles 295b and 295c, which are famous for inflicting punishment even on other Muslim groups in the country, such as the Ahmadiyya Muslim community.

As we look at the matter in greater detail, it becomes painfully clear that the application of these laws in Muslim countries is fundamentally unjust because the idea that Shariah condones punishment for blasphemy is simply untrue. There is nothing in classical Islamic jurisprudence, nor in the Quran, that would condone punishment for blasphemy. It is not an Islamic injunction.

There is no crime for which Gibbons should have had to spend any time in prison at all. By claiming that permission for a class to name the teddy bear "Muhammad" is an act of blasphemy punishable by law, members of the Sudanese government are doing nothing but bringing disgrace and embarrassment to themselves. If they really desire to punish the perpetrator, they should be chasing the 7-year-old boy named Muhammad, after whom the teddy bear was named. After all, the idea of the name came from the class. So they should be punished, right?

As ridiculous as that sounds, it is almost believable when considering the backward views these so-called "Islamic" governments hold. Isn't it about time these governments and groups stop making Islam look like a religion of intolerant savages? How far will this go?
These "defenders of Islam" are spitting on the face of the very religion they claim to serve. As a proud Muslim, I say to such people that Islam does not need you. This religion of peace will continue to thrive because of its fundamental teachings of love, tolerance, patience and forgiveness. The love taught by Islam will soon conquer the hatred taught by these so-called "Muslims."

Harris Zafar, a business analyst in the information technology industry, is president of the youth organization within his mosque in Southwest Portland .

Share (Social Bookmark)

Email this

Comments (0)

Write comment

Show/hide comment form