« UK: MI5 Needs 800 Spies Against Islamic Threat |
| Jordan: The Face of An Islamist Woman Who Failed To Murder »
November 13, 2005
Saudi Arabia: Teacher Gets Jail And Flogging For "Mocking Islam" and Studying Witchcraft
A teacher from a Saudi high school was sentenced on Saturday to three years imprisonment and 750 lashes, for "mocking religion" (Islam). Arab News reports that the floggings will occur at a rate of 50 lashes per week, performed in the public market in the town of Bikeriya in Al-Qassim.
Muhammad Al-Harbi was reported to the authorities 18 months ago by his own students, who filed a lawsuit against him. A chemistry teacher at Al-Fowalliq High school in Ein Al-Juwa in Al-Qassim, Mr Al-Harbi was said to have mocked Islam, to have favoured Jews and Christians, and also to have studied witchcraft.
Mr Al-Hirbi said that the 12th grade students who filed the lawsuit had failed a monthly chemistry test, had asked for a retake, which he had refused, and then gone to the principal. The principal had also refused the retake of the exam.
In an additional role as school activity organiser, Al-Harbi warned students of the dangers of terrorism and extremist beliefs. This led to antagonism from other teachers, those who taught Islamic studies, and these encouraged the students to take out the lawsuit, which they jointly filed.
The case is viewed by Mr Al-Harbi's lawyer as illegal, as religious cases should be held in a special court, no-one from the school had been questioned save the Islamic studies teachers and the students, and the judge did not allow the defendant to ask questions of his accusers. The case will be appealed in nine days' time.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at November 13, 2005 8:31 PM
Comments
Post a comment
Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)