Qatar heads blasphemy proposal..

I think Newton, Hawkings and Darwin had a huge impact on humanity.

Hats off to all those historic leaders who stood strong even if they were alone.. even when the whole community were plotting death against them.. even when their bodies were cut in to pieces...even when they were thrown into huge fire..even when their families were murdered in front of them.. This is what the human spirit I like.. if you are sure, dare it, face all the challenges.. cross the limits and the obstacles of fear..

I tried to read the history, very few (negligible) historic atheists were as strong as a historic believer..

Anyway..what to do yanni.. we all are learning..

Yup.. call for debate, exchange dialogues and do something professionally so that world would be a better place..instead stop doing something very silly which of course don't help anyone and has the possibility of provoking violence.

Hello!!! r u that conceited really!!!! u cannot insult that which belongs to ppl either mr genius!!!...u cannot interpret a commercial product falsely then not expect a lawsuit...that which belongs to others and does not belong to u is still off limits....u cannot insult anything that "BELONGS TO ME" then think that is ok!!!

Dude sometimes u say such moronic things it makes me feel like I'm talkin to a 3 yr old!!! U appear so disconnected from humanity and inter-human communication it's almost as if ur an "un-evolved animal"!!!!

He is not making your picture or cartoons of you to convey his message.. and that propaganda is not about your believe.

That's fine with me LLR, can you tell the guy at the mosque near me then to stop broadcasting his propaganda and then we can live and let live.

If you don't believe, then be confident enough not to associate yourself with it by any means.. let other do , die, go to hell or heaven or whatever..

I don't insult followers of a specific religion, what they believe is their business. However if I say what their holy books contain is rubbish and they take offence then that is their problem not mine.

I don't believe in Jesus and Mo because they are just cartoon characters, similar to political satire except this time the target of their satire is the religious ambiguities of man.

No idiot would take offense whether u believe or not...I could care less!!! but to insult followers of a specific religion is an insult to their character NOT TO GOD...if u say Jews r so and so...or Hindus r this and that...that's obviously an insult to the ppl and not to God...God can defend himself and doesn't need our help

Ur not allowed to insult ME...I repeat ME...one more time for assurance "MEEEEEE" based on what I believe in...I cannot say that all atheists r rapists....I cannot say that all Christians r cannibals...u cannot segregate ppl based on what they believe in, a believe is something personal...u can’t make everyone believe and hell does need some fire wood

Do you believe in Jesus and MO?

Who are Jesus and MO ?

Who said denying GOD in Qatar is illegal?

What if you use Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss picture to convey some good points?

LLR but you are wrong, it is illegal to deny God in Qatar!

OK on cartoons, Jesus and Mo is a satire on the religious establishment making very salient points. Would you want that banned?

If you say you don't believe in someone's GOD, no one takes it as offense, at least no court of law....after denying to believe, if you make cartoons of the same GOd & make fun of others beliefs, of course it will be offensive..

Defamation of character can be tried in a court of law and if what you say is proved to be incorrect then the agrieved party can be awarded damages.

If I say I don't believe in your particular God, how can you prove my statement is false? You cannot, you have no evidence to prove that God does exist either on the balance of probabilities or beyond reasonable doubt.

RIP THAT'S SUCH A MORONIC AND NARCISISTIC THING TO SAY!!!

Ever heard of defamation of character or verbal abuse???

you u DO NOT have the right to say that which "YOU KNOW FOR A FACT" will offend others...I cannot go to someone and say u "F"ing Bas**** ur mom was a wh*** then say welllllll it's ur problem that u got offended by what I say!!!!

u must really be one of those in love with the sound of own voice if u believe such idiotic crap!!!!

Yes..but there are 99.99% idiots living in this planet..so I think being strong will not help them...so it is better to have laws to deal with such idiots.

Freedom of speech shouldn't be misused by people who entertain themselves by harassing or offending others and think that offence is taken not given.

Hahaha, Can you please what was the deviation?

For your information, You can't offend me.. but are you sure, in a community everyone is typically strong to deal with any such offence?

Anyway back to the topic, blashpemy laws are idiotic, it priviledges one group in society above others and historically has been used for religious entities to maintain power and crush their enemies.

A true believer has nothing to fear from the words or pictures of an infidel

Yes.. It might be DANGEROUS as well.

If it is one and one.. danger is relatively less.

If it is many and many.. danger is relatively much higher than you can expect..

Hence authorities should put some prior restrictions so that there should not be any such danger and loss.

I can't show my face because some people believe their opinions and faith count more than others and some of those are violent and intolerant.

I did not assume.. don't be such a kind.. oh no worries as you said you did not go to school..

I asked you..

What entertainment you are looking after by calling someone ugly ?

Being an educated person.. don't use silly reasons..

You very well know people are very different.. and you know people will be offended.. but still what entertainment you are looking forward to?

And you are not calling someone.. you are calling all of them.. which has his dad, mom and everyone..

Why do you want to call someone ugly?

If someone calls you ugly you think it is ok to beat them? What nonesense LLR, you are justifying people who commit murder and that makes you as bad as those that commit such horrible acts as they believe people like you support them.

Yes.. Great.

Entertainment is more important than peace.

Finally you agreed.

When world is trying hard to deal with the extremists, why do you guys want to provoke more violence?

A firm believer can not be offended..of course yes.. but a community has different levels.. so what you are looking after?

Nope.. I am talking people having similar thoughts like you.

So you want to offend those who are just the beginners?

Why do you waste time on making cartoons and other stuffs if you still don't have an idea what 95% of the universe is about?

SC is it so hard to comprehend that it is the individual that is taking the offence. You have the right to be offended but you do not have the right to never be offended.

I don't deliberate set out to offend people, but if you are offended by what I say then that is your problem not mine.

Nope it is not harassment.. it is fun :)) and others have to tolerate. :))

"DON'T OFFEND PPL ON THE BASIS OF WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN"...why is that so hard for Rip to comprehend??? maybe cuz he enjoys harassing others day and night!!!

excuse me brother.. you have a religion and they have a religion, just let it go

no culture can cancel another culture,

we just meet, love or hate and walk away

trust me, where i live theres 18 religion and we still live together..

rp

not religion poisons everything

politics poioens everything

---- I think I just hijacked my own thread lol’z ----

LLR: It seems your metaphorical pedestal is so high that you can't get down

But in case you forgot, this was about the Arab league proposing to shove their legs on freedom of expression and speech.

Well until you came along and dropped the racially Defamatory stereotypically slurring comment about RIP getting killed in a black neighborhood.

Yup talking to someone who thinks he's never wrong is indeed pointless.

They may not realize that you are bacon sandwich.. So why not dress as a hog instead ..

You again missed the point.. I did not say I am right. I did give an explanation that it was a roleplay and I asked you an apology as it is not how I wanted you to perceive it. It was a discussion about a real life scenario.

What I want you to understand is, there are people like me, like rippey, like you , like nommy in the society..

At the end of the show.. YOU(one of our character) did try to knock the doors of an authority (MR.MOD).. a person who was up for freedom of speech did change in a practical situation and try to use the LAWS.

So it does tells that we need LAWS.. :)

I was creating a scenario for an example of a how it goes in a real life. You broke it down and want to start with number 2 by ignoring number 1.

Just see your statement is more personal "It seems your metaphorical pedestal is so high that he can't get down"

Though I was very clear that I am creating a scene.. I asked an apology to direct your focus back to the topic again.. but still you are not getting away from your personal perspective about me.

I am glad that we discussed a real situation.. at the end you called the authorities ( MR.MOD).. which means you are practically asking for LAWS. :))

W/E

Anyway.. I said it was a perfect example of how words do affect a social life.. Though I was clear what I said, I asked an apology because you missed the point and started getting personal.. Now your whole focus is ME, not the topic at all.. so no point of going further..

I would like to end my discussion with a quote "I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left.

- Margaret Thatcher

Should that comment been about RIP getting killed in a Muslim neighborhood, this thread’d of gone through 2 very typical on QL stages.

A-get hijacked by the typical hypocritically religious..

B--get deleted.

Keep beating around the bush..

I've been testing religous tolerance recently.

First I stood outside a church in a Roman uniform and no one said a word.

Next I stood outside a Synagoge in a Nazi uniform. They told me to go away as I was being offensive.

For my next test, I will eat a bacon sandwhich 8km from a mosque. Risky I know.

LLR:

1- What has my person or the color on my skin got to do with this?

You made a defamatory statement against blacks and I called you out on that particular racially stereotypical remark. I didn’t make any racial or ethnic references. Unlike you, I didn’t say, LLR I know you’re saying this because you’re “Indian”, and one with a history of prejudice to his own dark Indian brothers.

2- If you don't learn from your mistakes, you're destined to repeat them. And that’s exactly what you’re doing on this post.

Like you felt high and considered it an stereotypical statement and ask an authority (Mr.MOD) to take action..

Just change the word "Black" with a muslim, or a jew or something.. and compare how you felt with the feelings of others.. so why not they have an authority ( LAWS)???

What applies to you as human being, it applies to others as well..as simple as that..

However I know you are a black person. Don't take it personal.. My apologies if you have been offended.. All I was doing is to make it a perfect example..

"Why you bother, ignore it, like it or move on", were never been so practical in a society.. bcuz there are people like rippy.. there are people Like LLR, there are people like you, there are people like NOmmy and Thelo.. hence we need such laws..

LLR: don’t take it personal? Pfff! Buddy, just get down from your high pedestal and own up (:

my statement was based on your sterotpyical comment on blacks when you called them murderers.

Live with it.

Yes.. Your thought that I judge black people are criminals is your assumption.

Did not it trigger for something big?

There will be three groups.. one will say it was rippeyy mistake.. another group will say it was LLR's and the third one will not bother...

One unnecessary sentence provoke such an unrest.

Do you think number 2 (LLR's comment) would have arise without 1 (Rippyy's)??

As simple as that..

Don't take it person.. it was a real perfect example of how provocative it is in a real life..

It was easy to say "ignore and move on or why bother other's statements, don't listen and bla bla bla"

but when it happens, of course it triggers..

No LLR, It wasn’t my assumption.

In fact it was your sarcastically lolling ethically slurring and very stereotypical judgment on blacks and black neighborhoods that started this.

Read your own words LLR: We will have to say rest in peace Rippy. That wasn’t a compliment now for blacks.

Or was it?

If I explain a scenario or If I volunteer to explain a scenario , it does not mean it was from me..

Just see.. You think I judge Blacks as Criminals ( though it is your assumption, I was creating a scene), that came from Black people are ugly.

As I said

without 1 , you would not have 2..

My whole discussion from the beginning is to stop that 1 as I don't want 2 , 3 and and so on..

And for your information the 1 and 2 are examples of real life situations..

At the end we don't have One, everything is fine..

If we want to have 1 and don't want 2, and want the 2nd person not to think in that way... it is not practical at all..

So if RIP calls blacks ugly and then walks into a black neighborhood he’s sure to get killed?

LLR: calling blacks criminals doesn’t go well with your Deli lama views of the world.

That said. I’d like to see you own up to your mistake and remove the steryoptical statements against blacks. Or maybe the mods should.

You got it right..however

Without 1 , you would not have 2..

My whole discussion from the beginning is to stop that 1 as I don't want 2 , 3 and and so on..

And for your information the 1 and 2 are examples of real life situation..

LLR:

A- Two wrongs don’t make right

B-All blacks are ugly is wrong- All blacks are criminals is just worse.

C- Based on the narrative of both your posts (RIP/LLR)

1-All blacks are ugly was an example.

2-All blacks are criminals is a judgment.

And if a black person kicks rippyy's arse I would not say he did something wrong.. as Rippyy deserves it after making such comment on someone else..

"All black people are ugly" - does it exclude the entire race?

LLR: your Hollywood Harlem Ghettos movies influenced statement against blacks is just as provocative.

Actually, your statement is not only provocative, but it’s also judgmental because it stereotypes against entire race.

Yup.. this is how it starts Marco.. You say something about someone else and then he says something about you.. and it grows..someone punches in head and then someone kicks an arse..

The reason for all is Rippy's comment..

So why should one provoke it at first place..

landloverreview:

“Lol.. if you say all the black people are ugly.. and if you walk thru their land sometimes..we would have to say rest in peace Rippy”..

LLR: you just stereotyped aganist the blacks by portraying them as quick on the trigger criminals.

Lol.. if you say all the black people are ugly.. and if you walk thru their land sometimes..we would have to say rest in peace Rippy..

Yes. Nommy.. it takes time.. it need to be cultivated and we know it is still not there, hence those who are well educated , why to do something provocative when we have a better choice?

Instead of telling someone don't take it as offense, ignore it, close your eyes, keep fingers in your ears.. why not one try to avoid such thing??

Rippy said calling black people ugly is not offense.. by doing so what did rippy get? but it put a hatred seed in a black's heart.. it continues and then it bursts..

Let's just wait and watch..

NM/RIP: They’ll end up shooting themselves in the foot.

LLR there is a big difference between the gentle satire of Jesus and Mo and inciting reglious hatred and encouraging people to commit acts of violence against other communities.

If you stand up and say kill all black men that is a crime, if you stand up and say all black people are ugly it is not.

Landlover, that does not come by itself, it needs to be cultivated. Each and every day,continously, no matter what happens "on the outside". It is a choice.

Also, I do not "expect" anything from anybody, just from myself.

will help me or my religion, nope..not at all.. after such a long history of wars, media marketing, X-phobia's strategies it still exists, as per my understanding of my religious doctrines we don't need such laws.

But I am standing for peace, social justice and a non_violent world where we ALL respect each other..where we fulfil the responsibility of living in a multicultural world.. where we choose giving up at least those actions which we are clear that they will offend someone else. It is our moral, ethical and humanistic responsibility.

Be a professional, call for debates but don't hide behind the freedom of speech just because you are afraid to bring change.

I understand Nommy.. I lived in both parts of the world..It is my sixth year sharing with western non muslim mates.. I understand the difference very well. This law is not going to help me in anyway..I am just afraid of more communal violences.. just read this http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-24141678

I am just afraid of all such incidents..

I appreciate that you have kept a very positive expectation from all human beings.. I wish they are all have the similar thoughts and emotional stability.

landlover, no, I have not lived in a place like that...the nearest to it I have come is Qatar. As many people from the places you mentioned are here.

and yes, maybe I do not understand for this reason...But, what i can say is this, where I come from people are not particularly spiritual and most are not religious...still, people do not pay that much heed to what others say...in fact, they see the humour in it or simply shake their heads and forget about it..it certainly does not affect them particularly.

Words don't blow houses.. I don't think so..

You did not live in third world country yet.. so may be you dont know how WORDS could affect the social relationships..

Rumours are also words..

Do you know the reason behind the recent communal violence in India? It was a MMS/video of a hatred speech. Some even said it was a fake video..

I wish , I deeply wish and it is my dream that everyone of us should reach that spiritual height as you mentioned (inner peace, focus on self) when both appreciation and criticism dont affect the inside.. but we can't expect the same quality from everyone else.

Yes, Nommy.. This Laws will not affect everyone.. except those who invite national and worldwide attention..

Just take here the traffic rules, married out of wedlock, illegal businesses.. it gives a grip but it is not as strict as we think..

Did not you remember about people making comments when HH the Emir resigned that Qatar will become more conservation and bla bla bla.. I need to buy a hijab etc..

The same thing..

well, words don't burn down houses. Neither in speech, in writing or in drawing.So no real danger...maybe perceived danger, but no real danger. Therefore no need to blow things out of proportion.Non?

As I said Nommy, we are all not same.. we used to have a proverb back home

"just cuz my kid love playing with fire, I can't allow him to burn someone else house"

If I say someone has to protect their own house.. then it is not something not ethical at all..

Maybe because the person saying it does not find it offensive?

We should be social enough to live in a multicultural environments.. It is moral, it is ethical and it is humanistic.

We should not think of being offensive to someone and people also should learn to ignore such things.. however if we already know that it will offend someone..why should we do that in the first place?

Landlover, fine. If this is what they need, then it's their choice. I do not know anybody personally who feels this way though.

And to me, this kind of thing is unbalanced.

Landlover, nothing great about that..if that is what he felt he wanted to do, then good for him!

And as I said, feeling bad, angry, offended etc. does not good to anybody, least to oneself. It's a choice..nobody can make another person feel something against their will.

LLR: wha? It was a statue for heaven's sake!

unless you're saying all these Muslims I see in mosques around the city putting down their Qurans on their prayer mats between prayers are actually blaspheming against the religion.

I am not generalizing Nommy.. I had been involve with Christian missionary work and have visited more than 350 villages and met personally 1200 people..

People love their GOD and Prophet more than their family members..

Yes, I know there's a clear difference between next and under and in that picture the Quran was placed next and not under.

peeps time to hit the hay,yall have a goodnite

Nommy.. Nope.. we never feel better than non_religious person.. (I am talking about a true religious person)..

Do you believe my mentor was cleaning bathroom in a temple in nights just because he wanted to train himself not feel great of being a muslim.. though he was the HOD with a Phd..

True religious people will not offend for fun..

Thelo.. You have always talked about other culture.. what is your culture then? Do you have book defining it?

Besides, I do not think, personally, that the love one has for a deity or a prophet can be , or should be compared or measured against the love one has for a family member...this kind of thing smacks of extremism, IMHO...and we all know that nothing good can come from that!

Landlover...you are, again, generalzing!

There is clear difference between next and under..

If I put a picture of your mom or dad laying in the ground and I am standing in her/his back, will it make you happy?

Each community loves their GOD and Prophets more than their family members..

If you don't believe, it is your choice but making fun of other's choice has no moral value even in (friendship and relationship) and even in society.

well landlover, isn't that exactly what religious people claim to be better at that non religious people?

so..?

LLR: Very well said. Then by extension of logic, you also agree that such anti-Jewish religious writings should be on the top of the ban list?

LLR: then you must of been looking at another pic.

There was no one stepping on any religious book in the "staircase to heave": picture that I posted.

The Quran was gracefully placed on the prayer mat next to Muslim worshipers head. I common view in any mosque.

Thelo.. you still don't know who you are.. so stop thinking about shia sunni and muslims..

Nommy.. ur talking about someone who is well educated and spiritually renowned ... it is not practical though as a society is very diverse..

Yes. I don't mind Jews fighting for their rights Marco..

But I would not agree with the misuse of FOS and allow people to offend others.. it is morally unfit and it has the possibility of provoking communal violence and it can endanger the life of innocents.

Landlover, no. There is NO such thing like emotional harm if you don't allow it. It IS a choice.

I'm bored, I'm going to bed.

It's a stupid proposal and a stupid law that will get misused. We might as all pass a law making it illegal to deny the existence of Santa Claus.

Thelo, I do not think so. SOME may be that way..and they may, at this time, have the loudest voices.

Do you want to me believe physical harm is more powerful than an emotional harm?

I don;t think so.. physical injury could be easily heal but emotional injury takes time..

LLR: The whole Jewish community is also offended by such religious texts that calls them cheats, evil, trouble makers, and pigs and apes.

Some members are also a part of community.. it is the authorities responsibility to have equal rights to everyone.. even if a person is alone..

My vote for Freedom of Speech + Prohibition of Hatred talks (any sort of)

Why do people feel the need to be offended? What good does it do to be offended by what another person thinks or says? There is a difference between saying something or doing physical harm.

But with feeling, one has a choice to feel or not to feel, nobody can force another to feel offended or humiliated, it is a choice. Always.

why not simply to make the choice NOT to feel bad about what another says or thins...or draws or writes.

LLR: It's not up to you to decide what better picture should look like.

but to answer your question Yes I had other pictures but "CHOSE" to upload that particular picture because I wanted to.

RIP, Agree with you.. a black person is real in your mind.. and the other personalities are more than real in someone else mind..

After all, there are two things.. we need to bring change or we just need to have fun.. a person who likes to bring change would never choose the path of offensiveness and humiliation..

And the ba$ward who like to have fun never cares..

Landlover, it is NOT for a WHOLE community. It is for SOMe members of that community.

There is a difference, you are generalzing.

If only me and boxbe felt it offensive, then its fine.. may be we are not humans.. The whole Jewish Diplomatic Community felt it offensive as well..it even brought tears in my eyes when I saw my holy book below someone else legs..

If a group of people feels it offensive.. why not we as a human choose a posture and expression which are not offensive and still we deliver our perception.

I guess the big differene LLR is that the black person is real.

For you it is not because you are not from the same faith. But for a whole community it was. So if you talk about others you should not use words which can offend them..

Did not you had any better picture?

Will posting another picture which offends the people you are talking, reduce the weight of your talk?

I don't think so.. we always have better choice to make if we want to live in peace and social harmony but sadly we skip it knowingly and sometimes as fun and sometimes without knowledge.

legislating laws like that in the Middle East is like a child playing with a loaded gun. There's a high risk for your head being blown off.

And like RIP said Insult is a imprecise and one there's no hard and fast rule to distinct between what is insulting and what is opinion.

for example for LLR and Boxbi the pic I uploaded earlier and which was later removed by the censor police is insulting. but for me it's not. Dangerous field!!!

Adey/NM: I couldn't agree more that this law if implemented is going to be a very tricky one, specially in the Muslim world.

Take QL for a good example. how many times someone voiced a different opinion about topics that had nothing to do with religion and someone twisted it all up side down and then took offense when it actual discussion wasn't about religion at all?

I don't see any difference between a rape and hatred speech.

Just replace the word blasphemy with the racism, instead of GOD/prophet, use the same words about a black person or a white.

Would you say why the black should be feel offended?

Why the black should listen? As an individual of course he should have courage to deal with the humiliation by encouraging his faith but as a society, authorities should try to stop things which would possibly cause violence and division.

They don't read that Danish newspapers, some imams deliberately raised it in Egypt to stir up trouble and publicised it around the Middle East. The foolish sheep follow them and go round killing each other. It's demented.

Freedom of speech must be given and at the same time hate speeches should be prohibited.

Though Jesus and Mo don't benefit Rippyy.. he takes it as fun..laughs at it..but on the other hand, the same act openly humiliates millions.. he knows it humiliates but he puts the other human beings tolerance into test..

When an action could disrupt a social peace (harmony) and relationship thereby provoking violence and putting someone else tolerance into test, it should be prohibited by law as a whole but people can forgive each other.

You can only humiliate or offend somebody if they feel offended...and why would somebody feel offended if they are steadfast and secure in what they believe?

would they not feel pity or sadness for the "offensive" person?

IF they are secure.

are to protect everyone.We have Jails to protect criminals,if we leave them in the hand of public,it makes it worse.Just like in third world countries,if people caught a thief red-handed,you could not imagine what happens to him next,a mob will beat him till he collapses.

If everyone is like you, then we hardly need any laws, but sadly, all human beings are not same. Some people are like snake, it will not benefit them anything but they will poison others.

There are people who will forgive even if their family was killed, there are people who will come to fight even if you say something about their sister or mother or someone they love.

I find Jesus and mo a funny satire, others would consider it blasphemous. Who has the right to decide what should be considered blasphemous or not? I would suggest only god has this power so leave it up to him when you die.

No, I do not believe that such a law is a good thing.

See, you can't force people to change their minds. Even if you forbid them to say what they think, they will still think it. And more might start to think along those same lines...that is usually what "forbidding" to say what one thinks does.

I believe in God. I do not care what other people believe or think or say..nothing they say can change what I believe. It can't change my faith, it can't hurt my faith and it can't break my faith.

As I can say what I think, so can everybody else. IMHO.

Lol take it easy.. it was not that picture.. Mr.MOD changed it. :)

This is just an example of "no knowledge/wrong knowledge both are ignorance". :)

All others are idiots. :))

Back to the topic i think the law would be great

Opinions were always welcomed by religious leaders and scholars.. did not you see live interfaith debates and debates between religious scholars and atheists.. No one has a problem with an opinion..

It has more to deal with Hate speech, insulting others GODs and Prophets to have fun, humiliating others by burning their documents or making a movie by self agenda without any historic grounds or without necessary social movement..

If its personal I would agree with you that people will use it even for opinions but it is going to be an international movement..only for the anti_religious extremists.

Arabs states included this discussion in OIC only after Pastor Terry Jones madness sparked worldwide attention.

Landlover, it is not about how a STATE uses it, but how PEOPLE (ab) use it.

Nobody in Germany has been thrown into jail, as far as I am aware, for making fun of (abusing) a religion or people in some way important to it.

RIP, You are completely missing the term blasphemy..it has more to do about Hate Speech than having a different opinion. Even Germany has it..In Germany, blasphemy is covered by Article 166 of the Strafgesetzbuch, the German criminal law. If a deed is capable of disturbing the public peace, blasphemy is actionable.

I would rather say it is an absolute pessimism to think states will use it only for a particular religion, as they are more close to the WEST than each other for their national interest than their religious interest.

Rip, you know perfectly well how this will be used if it comes to pass. People with small shoulders and BIG chips...;P

Oh dear....many people can't make a difference between an offense and an opinion...

If this comes to pass, it may be better to keep one's opinion to oneself...there goes freedom of speech right down the drain...on the other hand, it does not really make a difference anyway.

So..whatever!

There are 100 who do study Islam, Christianity and Vedas together and call themselves as students/scholars of religions..

Does it also mean that Qatar will defend the rights of pagans and Druids? What about those that worship idols? How about those that use witch craft in their beliefs?

Let's face it most on here believe it will be used to defend Islam and attack other faiths. What of it is used to stop teaching of Islam in schools by lets say the Hindu faith as Islam is against Hinduism by it's very core beliefs.

I for one would be happy that indoctrination is taken out if schools but would you?

If it is as simple as dis/liking shaved heads I think it would have been a topic at all...more often anti_religious fanatics also go extreme like some religious fanatics and hide their agenda behind liberalism , freedom of speech and artistic freedom.

I don't like women with shaved heads, I find it offensive but I don't call for them to be banned or even jailed, even if they use their words to save they love shaved heads

Like Adey says its subjective, you want to imprison people for a perceived insult against something that cannot be proved to exist.

This is my strategy.. "I dont have to keep shut , but I can choose the best gesture & expression".

Adey, It was not only me.. there were so many..even the jewish diplomats.. everyone has a better choice.. you can express a thing in many different ways..why to choose something which offends someone when we had much better choices..

Concerning this topic is no better than a dissuasion between not so bright teenagers. Not surpisingly the Arab League and Qatar are travelling in the wrong direction of history. Blasphemy laws can't work as they require individual to be subjectively offended - just look at the 1st comment on this thread, getting offended by a sculpture!

Someone's religion is only special to them... No one else, and people have varying degrees of religiosity ... So no one can judge if someone finds x, y or z offensive. These laws have huge potential for malpractice and an erosion of civil liberties.

I think QL is a perfect example. Some use words to insult others' beliefs , yet hide behind the façade of free speech and the excuse that words do not hurt..

This issue cannot be resolved, as long as people have their own agendas and the need to push their viewpoint as correct..

For your information one of the main factor of blowing up in the history was "WORDS"... my point is.. if something is not ur business then it is better to leave it than making it an issue which possibly may provoke others.

A piece of 5hit and a tank of 5hit.. both are 5hits..

LLR there is a huge difference between taking offence at my words or being blown up, beheadings and direct/ndirect oppression (especially of women) .

I wish there must be a social harmony between religious extremist and anti-religious extremists. When someone thinks "offense is taken not given" I am not really sure he could possibly know the meaning of living in a multicultural world.

LLR: The irony here is that, aside from a couple of highly criticized haddiths that puts the death punishment on blasphemy. The Quran not even remotely hint at any punishment for defaming religion.

that said.Unfortunately, the voice and wish of a handful extremists nut jobs and their disillusioned poisonously delirious interpretations of Shariah law is leading this type of religious madness.

funny though, non of these so called Muslim governments are practicing the true and real Islamic teachings.

RIP: witch hunt is already there in Saudi. the punishment for practicing wizardry is death.

Let bring back witch trails and party like its 1499. This proposed law is absurd and if you read what they are proposing it is very disturbing, even nazi like.

You can say I do not like Islam and Prophet Mohd never existed in the US and then 2 years later come on a business trip to Qatar. They could then arrest you and throw you in jail, for in their interpretation it doesn't matter where the 'crime' is committed.

It is a charter for religious extremists

sharia, during early-islamic era & whole life of Prophet we did not see any such thing,people had used offensive words against him & islam but there were no laws except giving them a professional response.

Being jealous of his success, Quraish launched a campaign of satire against the Prophet & his companions. This campaign was led by four influential men. One of them was Prophet's cousin himself.As the situation became intolerable. The prophet in consultation with his friends nominated 3 volunteers to reply the satirists in a professional way. They were Hassan bin Thabit, Abdullah bin Rawah & Ka’abbin Malik.

There were no strict laws or something.FOS was not taken away from anyone.

LLR: very true! I think people resort to these kind of radical legislation. I call it religious frustration down syndrome.

And yes it's very complicated situation,but here's another thought.

Wouldn't it be a whole lot better if people start being mindful of their own rights,speeches, and interactions, when dealing with the other?

In the meantime, you might wanna check my recent post, titled : Before the beginning. http://www.qatarliving.com/node/18484871

Marco, It will be as complex as you think.. as they are going to propose in UN.. It would apply for the extremist only. like that ba$ward who wanted to burn Quran in public.. why? if you don't like , don't like.. why call make it a worldwide issue? Will burning will bring the change he thinks he could bring? It would just provoke more violence and divisions.

Fatimah/Brit: literally speaking, if this indeed becomes a law and become implemented, then anything any criticism of cultural influenced religious practices could amount to defamation of religion ...In light of the recent incident with the Nepalese teacher here , it seems we are going back in time, to a dark place, when books were burnt and the human mind was pressured and oppressed.

that said. I 'd like to see the Arab/Muslim world pursuing less intrusive ways to promote respect for religion.

I must admit that this is a difficult one. I find that many go out of their way to antagonize and cause strife in the name of free speech.

However, I must take the side of free speech and say that such laws are unnecessary and should not be enacted.

On one hand it is positive that it forbids insulting of ALL faiths, which means whilst one can question and debate with another with regards to their religious beliefs, they cannot get downright insulting and abusive. This will ensure peace and cordiality even in the face of interfaith dialog which is good.

However such laws are also known to be used to falsely accuse others, and can be difficult to prove in verbal exchanges. This could then cause much strife and injustices!

I agree with LLR, if people were to just be tolerant and considerate towards one another, faith/beliefs no bar, truly such laws will have no place in any civil society.

admin: smth!

Picture modified - now you can discuss the topic

Thank you Mr. MOD.

LLR: agreed...

Like everything it has both pros and cons..

As long as we all respect each other, we really don't need blasphemy laws..

However more often we have found some people like to make comments about others, though it will not help them by any means.. like some just start with words "You are all stupid"..

There is common moral ground in a multicultural environment which everyone of us has to follow but sadly many of us don't.

LLR/RIP: Well I think this proposal is going to backfire, and big time.

because while theoretically speaking the proposal is being developed to protect all religions from insult, but in reality it's being tailored out for just one religion.

one great irony is lost, especially on the majority faith of this region, and that is if such laws would ban news articles,books, and cartoons that "supposedly", defame religion, they would also, by logical extension, have to ban religious preacher that spew hatred from their pulpits. It will also mean that, certain religious text which which is not so friendly towards others, will have to be removed from local school text books. just my 2 cents.

I know marco where it is coming from.. I remember Jewish Embassy asked Spain to remove it as Jewish community felt it offensive as well.

No worries..this is just my opinion that everybody has a right so live and let others live.. one should not cross a limit to humiliate someone else just because it makes him happy..

Like the T-shirt thread.. What make them wear a T-Shirt with pictures of someone's God or Prophet? You don't believe in God and Prophets so why still you need to be associated with them with other dimension?

Lol Rippyy.. I still remember many of your comments about GOD... it is good that you agree it was non sense..

LLR

for example.. Atheists continuously express their rage against God although in their view He does not exist.

Errrr... That makes no sense. Atheists rage against religious people that brain wash children and encourage divisions in humanity and killing in gods name. They have no problem with god as he doesn't exist and therefore is irrelevant to humanity

This is a disaster waiting to happen.

Look how blasphemy laws are used in Pakistan for example. They are used to persecute religious minorities and to settle scores.

Blasphemy laws are not needed. God is omnipotent, all seeing and all knowing. He created the universe and everything in it and he is not insecure that he needs humans to punish other humans for perceived insults. He's a big man and he can take it.

Satan?

Freedom of speech should not use as an provocative tool.. if you don't agree its fine but if you want to judge or make statements about others with no reason.. then of course it is taking over someone else freedom of speech..

for example.. Atheists continuously express their rage against God although in their view He does not exist.

If as per your thoughts if he does not exist then why keep on expressing rage against him?

picture is offensive...it is looking as if the muslim man is praying and satan(s) are distracting him while prayer

LLR: The sculpture is by Spanish artist Eugenio Merino (Madrid, 1975).

It represents a Muslim worshiper, a Catholic priest and a Rabbi. The three of them are immortalized in the act of praying, each one in his own fashion. nothing offensives about it.

I feel the picture you upload is offensive in being a human context..

In my opinion.. you have right to have your say..there is a clear line between an insult and an opinion...humiliation and correction or advice.