Various media outlets are reporting the latest outrage from Sharia courts. Iranian authorities have reportedly executed Mohsen Amir-Aslani, 37, for allegedly “insulting” the prophet Jonah and accused him of committing adultery. For that exercise of free speech and freedom of religion, a Sharia court had him hanged.
Amir-Aslani was arrested nine years ago for what is described in the Guardian article as “making innovations in Islam and providing his own interpretations of the Qur’an.” He was later accused of insulting prophet Jonah and having sex outside marriage.
Leila, his wife, said that the court declared his religious views as “spreading corruption on earth” and denounced “innovations in the religion.”
The specific charge regarding Jonah is based on his simple observation that the story of Jonah, which appears in Chapter 10 of the Qur’an, is “symbolic.” The Sharia court viewed that as insulting since Muslims believe that he was swallowed by a fish and imprisoned before he “glorified Allah” and repented for his actions.
The charge of illicit sex with people in his classes was added later and one can only imagine what officials may have done to his students and associates to support such a charge.
Human rights groups have charged that Iran’s ministry of intelligence was behind Amir-Aslani’s arrest. The case was given to a notorious judge, Abolghassem Salavati, who is known for denying basic rights and consistently ordering executions.
It is telling that these “judges” are so fearful of “innovation” or commentary on their religion. Such disgraceful executions only serve leave the impression of men who are insecure about the viability of their faith in the modern world or its ability to withstand commentary. The destructive legacy of these Sharia courts continues to mount as various Muslim countries disguises blind religious Orthodoxy and intolerance as forms of “law.” Salavati is not a judge in any plausible interpretation of that word. Likewise, this is no more of a “court” than was the tribunals of the Spanish inquisition. These atrocities will continue until the Muslim world embraces the concept of separation of mosque and state and rejects such crimes as apostasy.
RIP Mohsen Amir-Aslani
There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary be at rest.
Job, 3. 17
Source: Guardian
Po, your observations are very astute. The claims of she criticizing ONLY extreme Islam is a mischaracterization of HER OWN words and her cites to Islmaphobic sources. Ironic she even misrepresents herself!
Thanks for the kind words, Doc.
Sentences like this, Karen “If you think that condemning beheadings by extremists is “demonizing Muslims” then I’m glad that the families of the kidnapped victims do not depend upon you for help.” are the problem.
It is obvious to all that it isn’t the issue Happy is addressing. None of us on this blog would give you a hard time for bemoaning acts of extremism. Had this post existed outside of the universe of the Turley blog, we could but take you at the measure of your comments on this exact topic on this exact post. As it is however, your profile Karen S, includes not only everything you said on this post, but also on the Turley blog as a whole.
And based on ALL the comments you have made on this blog, you have a marked tendency to speak out on Islam as if you are very knowledgeable about it. Evey instance of islamic extremism reported here has you comment on it in an explanatory manner, tying facts with causes that are usually erroneous. When challenged, you then offer sources that are KNOWN islamophobic.
Annie is reacting to the Karen who tends to misquote others on this blog; Happy is reacting to the Karen who tends to demonize Islam by not being careful enough, as a rule, to mark the difference that Turley makes that it is the work of the fringe.
I react to the same Karen, which speaks of shariah law as does Fox news, the monster under the bed that is out to get all and is downright evil, rather than just as a set of law that varies based on the locale, the power charged to implement it AND the cultural aspects of the locale. If your research looks to confirm shariah law as evil, you will only find examples of its evil.
For every shariah law court that is guilty of ordering the killing of one person, there are 100s of shariah courts that did not order the same sentence to the same exact crime. So you lack of distinction coupled with your “authority” on the subject makes you….um….well, dangerous!
The above applies to Paul, to some extent, but he is more addicted to the (emotional/psychological?) benefits from the chaotic vortex he creates than in the intellectual benefits of the discussion. Which is a damned shame cause he is obviously smart enough to just play it straight.
Po – my problem is that you do not play it straight. You clearly are literate and educated and should join us in the sandbox as we discuss other issues, however you refuse for whatever reason. Right now you are attempting to denigrate your opponents in an effort to belittle them for the next round. And quite frankly if you think I have abused you ask around. I have treated you with kid gloves.
What you are not getting is that for every 15000 police officers who do their job correctly we only hear about the one who screws up. For every 15000 courts who do their job correctly we only discuss the one that screws up. In this case, this is a royal screw-up. If you would join us in the sandbox you would see what we discuss everyday. Personally, I probably discuss on 5-6 threads a day, some at more length than others depending on how interesting they get or how interested I am. I spend 10-12 hours a day monitoring this blog while I multi-task.
Happy:
” I don’t think you have to be a Christian to know your Maker imo.”
Right. No kidding. Hence why I have absolutely no problem with moderate Muslims, Christians, Jews, Mormons, Buddhists, Atheists, Agnostics, and anyone else who doesn’t harm anybody. Why do you keep explaining to me what we already agree on? Do you still think I’m an Islamophobe when I complain about actions such as in this article? If so, then repeating an untruth does not make it so.
And yes, amazingly, bad things happen all around the world that have nothing to do with Muslims. Would that prevent me from condemning the beheadings of extremists? If it makes you feel better, I’ve also condemned Putin’s expansion, and yet, amazingly, I am not a Russophobe. I have condemned the Catholic pedophile scandal and yet, and please sit down for this, I am not a Catholicphobe. It’s am amazing super talent of mine, unbelievable, I know, that I am able to denounce what I think is wrong, and yet inconceivably understand that people are judged only by their actions. I judge those who try to burn the world down because of a cartoon, and admire those who know better and would never participate in such a thing.
If you think that condemning beheadings by extremists is “demonizing Muslims” then I’m glad that the families of the kidnapped victims do not depend upon you for help.
“I have seen Po explain over and over exactly what you are questioning below in this very thread.”
Happypappies,
I just went back through the thread…..again and NO, Po did not explain anything related to unalienable rights. All of this chest-thumping about religion is pointless if natural rights are not secured. This is why I decided to provide a statement for clarity and since Po agreed completely, I have no further questions…for Po.
I questioned you on that statement as well and unlike Po, you’ve have not committed an answer in support or opposition of the statement. So for clarity, here it is again:
“I believe we are all created with unalienable rights. I believe we have the unalienable right to believe in a God(s) or Creator or in none of the above. I believe we have the unalienable right to practice our faith in accordance with specific doctrine but that our fidelity to that doctrine shall not infringe the unalienable rights of ourselves or any other person. Just as secular (constitutional) law shall not infringe natural rights; neither shall any other law or belief infringe natural rights.”
Hi Olly – Not sure what you want here – you seem kind of facetious
I questioned you on that statement as well and unlike Po, you’ve have not committed an answer in support or opposition of the statement. So for clarity, here it is again:
“I believe we are all created with unalienable rights. I believe we have the unalienable right to believe in a God(s) or Creator or in none of the above. I believe we have the unalienable right to practice our faith in accordance with specific doctrine but that our fidelity to that doctrine shall not infringe the unalienable rights of ourselves or any other person. Just as secular (constitutional) law shall not infringe natural rights; neither shall any other law or belief infringe natural rights.”
My political stance is Classical Liberal. That should answer that question. It makes me rememember where Po commented so many Muslims were also Atheists in his own County. Too bad you couldn’t see that in the thread because I saw it. I consider that saying None of the Above. What he believes and his County’s law is may be two different things. idk But we have all kinds of laws that infringe on our natural rights here and it is a joke to pretend otherwise unless you are a total hypocrite. Unless you want to take the State out of it and let the People govern themselves.
Po:
Thank you for addressing my concerns in such an informative, thoughtful, and interesting way.
Being called a liar and an authority on all things Muslim was so refreshing.
Po – I have to go with Karen. I appreciate being elevated to the level of expert on all thing Muslim has given me a good feeling all day. 🙂
Karen – just found these. don’t know what happened to them today but they didn’t come in my mail I was not ignoring you. Karen S
happy:
“Karen – I read your intent to mean it was the Revealed Word of God. It is not. It is the Path that Guides their Life. Not just legal aspects of it. All you know is what you read and the awful stuff that comes back to you.”
I have never personally called Sharia Law either “Revealed Word of God” or “Path.” I’ve only described that it abuses human rights in every single country where it is practiced. I have not based my opinion only on what I have read. Why would you say that when I have repeated referenced my family member witnessing beheadings of gays, a girl I knew getting arrested, etc? It is true that there are written stories in the news and here on JT’s blog. There is no denying that Sharia Law is in the news every day with some new atrocity. I can and do pray for the people suffering under Sharia Law, but that does not prevent me from condemning it.
Could you please clarify for me, Happy, if you are defending Sharia Law? If so, are you doing so because it also contains everyday rules in addition to the beheading of gays? Do you condone killing gays or amputating the arms of children? If not, then what’s your problem with me complaining about it?
on 1, October 2, 2014 at 10:44 am Karen S
Happy:
“From what I have seen, He has only opined about insane crimes.”
No, Happy. Please re-read his posts. He specifically references Sharia Law where that is applicable.
I did re read his posts. I don’t want to talk about this any more. Not because of Pedophile Priests or anything like that but because we have worn a circle around the palm tree on this one. You are obviously not seeing what I am. I am seeing someone who is redeemed with God. I don’t think you have to be a Christian to know your Maker imo. Jesus is the one who will Judge us in the end we aren’t supposed to Judge according to what we are taught. So, from that perspective, please, have a listen. I am sorry your relatives had a hard time there. Can we please put this in perspective. You realize that people are stranded in the Ukraine now. I have relatives that are stranded there now. Nothing to do with Muslims dear. Just Putin. And then we can do what Aridog hates , we can go through chronological history. I come from a Naval Family. My Dad hates the Japs. They are not Muslims. Halsey said “kill Japs Kill Japs Kill Japs Kill More Japs.”
Karen, all of these wars, every one of them is based on economics. They will scream and yell jingoism on the news. But it’s economics.
I suffered just as much abuse from my own family as your relatives did. I finally escaped but there you are and I am permanently estranged. Everyone suffers pain. You can’t point a finger at a single group and the News Media is guilty of doing that to the entire American Public. I just told Olly about Joseph Kony and She/he couldn’t understand why I was so upset about one more freak. ….. It’s because the News Media isn’t building it up because we are going to exploit them for oil. Anyway. I just don’t think the Media should continue to Demonize the Muslims. It’s wrong and I wonder what is really behind it all. You just remember as a Christian the those that are Persecuted are promised the Kingdom of Heaven so if those people over there are Christians they are safe. And if they are innocent they are also.
DBQ – I agree.
The most we can do about Sharia Law abuses in other countries is to complain about it through diplomatic channels and, most importantly, not to financially support countries who have serious human rights abuses, period. I also would like to see us offer asylum to people like Jabbari. If they don’t want her, we’ll take her. At least we should try.
Hi Olly, I wasn’t responding to that so much as the btw thing on here at the bottom which I cut and pasted this time for clarification. Since my name was brought into this again, Let me explain this in a different way. I have seen Po explain over and over exactly what you are questioning below in this very thread. Do you and Karen and Paul just not see it or do you refuse to see it because he is Islamic or what is it? I don’t get it? It is very clear to me and I am a Christian. I surely wouldn’t want to be browbeat to death. Anyway whatever. I am just standing up for my own self.
on 1, October 2, 2014 at 10:40 pm Olly
happypappies,
You would do well to point out where I have been unfair in my comments to Po. Take your time. In the meantime, my statement was in response to his expectation that I provide clarity. He then responded that he agreed with that statement completely. Does that bother you? Frankly, I don’t care if he worships his easy chair as long he supports that statement.
Now if you feel the need to continue and post a defense for him when he and I are in complete agreement, then I’m not certain you and Po are in agreement. Do you agree with Po about that statement? If so, then we’re making progress.
Olly
I cannot ask for more clarity from Po and would like to know if anyone is opposed to the following statement and why?
“I believe we are all created with unalienable rights. I believe we have the unalienable right to believe in a God(s) or Creator or in none of the above. I believe we have the unalienable right to practice our faith in accordance with specific doctrine but that our fidelity to that doctrine shall not infringe the unalienable rights of ourselves or any other person. Just as secular (constitutional) law shall not infringe natural rights; neither shall any other law or belief infringe natural rights.”
BTW, it wasn’t surprising Annie avoided agreeing or disagreeing with that statement. I wonder if she is waiting to see if Po or happypappies or even Docmadison support that statement?
happypappies,
You would do well to point out where I have been unfair in my comments to Po. Take your time. In the meantime, my statement was in response to his expectation that I provide clarity. He then responded that he agreed with that statement completely. Does that bother you? Frankly, I don’t care if he worships his easy chair as long he supports that statement.
Now if you feel the need to continue and post a defense for him when he and I are in complete agreement, then I’m not certain you and Po are in agreement. Do you agree with Po about that statement? If so, then we’re making progress.
I cannot ask for more clarity from Po and would like to know if anyone is opposed to the following statement and why?
“I believe we are all created with unalienable rights. I believe we have the unalienable right to believe in a God(s) or Creator or in none of the above. I believe we have the unalienable right to practice our faith in accordance with specific doctrine but that our fidelity to that doctrine shall not infringe the unalienable rights of ourselves or any other person. Just as secular (constitutional) law shall not infringe natural rights; neither shall any other law or belief infringe natural rights.”
BTW, it wasn’t surprising Annie avoided agreeing or disagreeing with that statement. I wonder if she is waiting to see if Po or happypappies or even Docmadison support that statement?
Olly, go through the thread, he states specifically, more than once, that he agrees in the rights of our faiths. You are the one who sounds truculent here. He only has a couple of times when you all project negativity of your feelings about Islam on him. I truly don’t think you understand that he worships Lord God Almighty and that Allah is an Arabic word for that and please don’t come back at me and say it’s predated because so is God to Baal and Astarte
Dusty at 7:48.
Well done! Let’s chisel off the Emma Lazarus poem and substitute your ‘welcome’.
Nick,
Take two aspirin, drink plenty of liquids and get a good night’s sleep. But be sure to check under the bed for those fearsome parasites.
po
Thanks for your valuable and thoughtful input.
Your patience in dealing with the constant onslaught of ignorance, intolerance, and the meaningless empty quip is admirable.
Breitbart and End Times are not taken seriously and most with more than a 8th grade education know that perception is not reality.
docmadison – if you are referring to me I have much more than an 8th grade education, I am well read and I have a relatively high IQ, slightly lower than Albert Einstein’s, but enough to keep me in Mensa Po has been unable or unwilling to answer some pointed questions.
There are many parasite cleanses available on the market. However, I remember both my grandmother and uncle swearing by garlic cloves as a way to kill parasites. My sister had “the worms:” and my grandma made her eat 3 garlic cloves. It worked, My uncles had a concoction of garlic and tobacco, he would give his beagles when they had a parasite, It turns out they are good natural ways to kill parasites. Eleanor Roosevelt ate a clove of garlic daily, but that was for brain function. I worked in a nursing home in high school. There were many broken down Italians. But, their problems were all physical, all sharp as a tack mentally. Always make sure you’re not a host to a parasite. Ironically, garlic wards off parasites and vampires.
You guys are fascinating. This is not my first go around on this topic, Karen, Paul…and as usual, we play blame the victim….
Karen speaks as an authority on all things Islam, just click on any post featuring the world Islam and you’ll see Karen and Paul expounding authoritatively…
Paul speaks round and round jumping from on topic to the next with just the right keywords to sound knowledgeable…and when challenged, he questions one’s understanding, and qualifications, and background and … Yet he is unable to refute any of my points, and I have refuted every one of his!
Hahaha…thanks for the laugh, Paul…a plant…from Islam…!
If it makes you feel good, then yes, I am a plant, hired by the Islam lobby to change our communal view of Islam, and yes, Karen. I support beheading, and decapitations and rape and child murder and forcing everyone to convert at the point of a sword… BOO!!!!
At least I got to meet Happy and linked with Ari and …hello Annie!
Paul, Karen, see you at the next Islam themed Turley post…tomorrow!
Po, I don’t think that Annie or I want you to go. lol. I am not scared when you say dangerous. I think that is a slam at the President of Iran and the warmongers that are Neoconservative here took a word out of context years ago and said he was going to kill us all
po – you have yet to refute anything I have said. In fact you have agreed with much I have said. What we have disagreed on at length is whether the Koran was written down before or after the death of the Prophet. It is in question by scholars, yet you claim it to be fact that it was written down before his death. For someone who claims to believe in grey, this is not very grey of you.
Are you a plant? You sure have all the hallmarks of one. You appear only when Islam is a hot button issue. You dodge all pointed questions and you try to deflect all blame from Islam as dangerous. You have even raised the bloody flag of McCarthy to make your point to protect yourself from pointed questioning.
” I have a problem with Sharia Law abusing human rights in the instances that Professor Turley has given,”
As do I. However, in another country as much as we may abhor and be repulsed by their laws, I don’t see what we as a nation can or should do about it. If that is how they want to live, I guess it is their right.
In our OWN country that is another matter entirely. Sharia law has no place in the United States. We have a set of laws and a constitution. Those trump the “laws” of Sharia when it comes to conflicts with our codified laws. Don’t want to eat pork. Fine. Don’t. Don’t like dogs and think they are nasty unclean. Good don’t have one, they probably don’t like you either. Don’t want to sit next to women on a plane. Fine. Don’t do it. But you can’t throw yourself around and force others to comply with your feelings (yes I know this was a Jewish thing but extremists are extremists no matter what their orientation)
But other things ARE against the law. Spousal abuse is against the law. Killing your daughter because she offends your sense of religion or somehow made you look foolish is REALLY against the law. Beating your wife to death because she didn’t make you goat stew….also against the law. Groping and raping women because you think they are asking for it. Wrong-o Interfering with an international flight (again the Jewish group) is against the law. Go to jail.
You don’t get to demand that everyone has to cater to your whims and change our lives to suit you. That is what three year old children think and throw tantrums over. They get spanked and disabused of THAT notion.
I don’t give a rat’s @ss what Islam or Mohammed or Sharia Law says about it. It doesn’t matter because those are NOT the laws of this country. You live under the rules of the country you are living in not the one you left… you doofuses. Don’t like living under the laws of the United States. Move. Get the eff out of Dodge. Go back home. And guess what…..we will not miss you.
Want to practice your religion quietly and respectfully of others who have their own religious views and who should do the same, want to obey the laws of the land. Want to be a productive citizen. Contribute to society. Raise well behaved children who will also become good citizens and community members. Buy a house. Drive a car. Just live and let live. We welcome you.
Paul – Looks like I’m winning hearts and minds, and making friends again.
I am against the abuses of Muslim extremists and the abuses of Sharia Law, but I have no problem with moderate Muslims, and yet Po and Annie have opposed me in this argument without explaining why, besides calling me a liar.
I was called intellectually dishonest, but there was nothing, that I saw, that Po actually referred to. If I had quoted Qu’ran, or needed some help understanding passages, I’m sure Po would have been very helpful. But other than that, Po seems very distressed that I am taking a stand against extremism, and I have a problem with Sharia Law abusing human rights in the instances that Professor Turley has given, and in the experiences of my own family members. Po has a problem with this, but won’t explain what she actually disagrees with me about.
So we’ll just leave it at that.
Karen – not sure if it will be any help to you psychologically or emotionally, but neither Po nor Annie can explain their positions with enough clarity that you can discuss things with them. There is a position A and they are good to that point. After position A, it is all downhill.
Po:
“Karen is the kid who pokes then yells: I did not do anything, she just punched me. I did not do anything.”
Whoa. I’m sorry, what??? Who yelled at you? Who figuratively struck you? What the heck have I been intellectually dishonest about? You would think this would be a complete non-issue for you, just as it really required no thought for me to condemn pedophile priests while supporting lawful freedom of religion. What is there to argue about?
I have said I oppose Muslim extremists and the abuses of human rights under Sharia Law, in agreement with this blog, and you think that is yelling at you and punching you?
You have argued with me, and I was not sure why, as you kept defending Islam and I kept explaining I have no problem with moderate Islam. I asked you if you agreed or disagreed with my complaints about the specific abuses of human rights under Sharia Law, including the decapitation of gays, and this is how you respond?
If you are unable to discuss calmly the issues at hand, then I shall not respond to you after this point.
This does seem to be a problem around the globe, in general, in which it is very difficult to discuss issues with radical Islam without encountering a very emotional response. If there’s anyone you should be upset with, it should be the extremists, not the people complaining about their actions.
Is Annie still trying to explain that all Muslims are not extremist? Who has argued that point?
Olly – I absolutely agree with your post. 🙂
Karen is the kid who pokes then yells: I did not do anything, she just punched me. I did not do anything.
I have debated enough people across the spectrum of atheism and fundamentalist religion to see the signs of intellectual dishonesty, and my radar is blowing red like a hurricane, karen and Paul.
I thought Nick was the problem on this blog but Paul is giving him a run for his money, just more subtle at it.
Paul, I used to participate more often but, to quote Annie, you cannot change some people’s mind, and worse yet, they do not allow you to change other people’s mind.
And yes, I run here whenever Prof Turley includes the word Islam in a post, eager I am to control any damage you and Karen have done by the time I arrive, you know, you guys being authorities on Islam and all.
Paul, you refute my McCarthyism reference then you accuse me of being a plant?! For whom, communism? russia? islam? Saudi Arabia? Iran?
Brother asked me why I take the abuse on this blog, I said because I am talking to the ones reading but not participating, who may hear some falsities here and assume them true. In that, some of you friends are doing me a huge favor.
Olly, you ask a fair question, it is just that your obvious siding with Karen and Paul makes it hard to trust your purpose. But…I agree wholeheartedly with your statement. Indeed that is what my faith teach. Completely!
And to quote Annie again, I hate extremism of every stripe, every source. I am a male feminist, a Muslim Jew, a black white man, a grown up child. My faith calls to stand up for the downtrodden, the poor, the powerless, for goodwill and caring. I am hostile to indifference to suffering, and my twitter feed currently sports pictures of homeless people in Mecca, and my outrage over it. I am also hateful of bs statements, and resent those who are unable to see the spectrum of grey that compose the world. To them, there is only black and white, and the other is always black.
Po Yaayy Keep on posting. I have your back. There is evil rampant everywhere and until people acknowledge it head on we will never over come it God Willing.
Po – we “the is the royal we’ know that there are plants who are being sent to blog on various sites where Islam is being discussed. And I am asking you if you are one of the plants who appear to defend Islam and then disappear. If you are a plant you are a plant for Islam.
I have debated you fairly but you have not answered fairly. You can deflect the blame to Karen, Olly and myself, but the main cause of the problem is you. You pretend that you see grey but actually all you see is black and white. You talk the talk, but you don’t walk the walk. When you decide that you can debate legitimately, get back to me.
I’m off to catch a plane. Not ignoring any commenter’s questions.