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Egyptian veteran comedian Adel Imam.
CAIRO --One of the Arab world's best-known comedians was sentenced to three months in jail for offending Islam on Thursday, just weeks after Islamist parties won a majority in parliament.
A judge, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to reporters, told The Associated Press that Adel Imam was convicted in absentia of "defaming Islam." His whereabouts were unknown, the AP reported.
A lawyer with ties to Islamist groups, Asran Mansour, brought the case, judicial sources told The Guardian.
"I think the lawyer who filed the case against Imam is taking advantage of the current circumstances with Islamists gaining power in Egypt," Nabil Abdel Fattah, an analyst and researcher at al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo, told the newspaper.
The sentence, which he thought would probably be overturned on appeal, had likely been handed down because the actor had failed to go to court, according to the newspaper. He said the sentence had likely been handed down because Imam had failed to appear in court, the Guardian reported.
At least 74 people were killed and hundreds more injured when rival soccer fans in Egypt rioted after a match. NBC's Ayman Mohyeldin reports from Cairo.
The state-run Ahram Online English website reported he was found guilty for a 2007 movie in which he plays a corrupt businessman and a 1998 play about an Arab dictator. Other reports said the court objected to his use of Islamic symbols.
Chaotic scenes as injured soccer fans return to Cairo after riot
In the 1980's, Imam was sentenced to three months in jail for defaming lawyers in a film. That ruling was later overturned.
Msnbc.com and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Well... in some Middle Eastern countries defaming Islam is a capital offense!
So... you know... progress!
Thank you Obama - You threw Mubarak under the bus and have handed Egypt over to the Islamic fundamentalist. A case like this never would have even made it into court under the predominantly secular government of Mubarak. Now the Muslim Brotherhood is calling the shots and a once secular Arab republic is becoming a fundamentalist Islamic republic. Great job on. By the time Obama is done there will not be a single secular government left in the Arab world. The short sighted belief by the administration that they should support the overthrow of every non-democratic regime in the region is handing country after country to the Islamists. Sometimes a relatively benign dictator that uses force from time to time to keep the religious nuts at bay is far better than a rigged democracy controlled by religious fanatics. Unfortunately, democracy can sometimes turn into mob rule where a majority that is one religion can suppress and persecute anyone who does not go along with their beliefs. Having election to determine who gets to write the new constitution means that the majority can write the new laws to favor themselves and marginalize everyone else. Not every country has wise men like our founding fathers were that will write a constitution to protect everyone's right. When the religious nuts win the initial elections, they write the new constitution both to favor their views as well as to ensure that they can remain in power as long as possible. They write rules that make it difficult if not impossible for anyone who dissents from their views to ever even get into a position to make any changes. Again, wonderful foreign policy job Obama.
Get out of your cave JS, Mubarak's regime was over anyway. Just like the Shah in Iran, Pinochet in Chile, Videla in Argentina, etc, etc... Even the US can only prop a corrupt, worn out and unpopular regime for so long. And doing it comes at a very high price.
Mubarak didn't leave because or despite the United States; Obama was (rather shamefully, if you ask me) quite inactive when the Arab Spring was kicking into low gear. It would have happened without him, and there's very little he could have done to stop it if he wanted to.
As for the results, hey, I'd rather have to deal with a bunch of Islamist democrats than secular authoritarians. Call me an optimist.
"Islamist democrats". Will of the majority, but no underlying concept of human/minority rights. So if "Death to the Jews" is a popular sentiment, then hey, it's the will of the people. If Christians are blasphemers of Islam, according to popular will, then their religion must be illegal. Don't love the secular authoritarians, either, though, due to the fact that they are authoritarian, but Jeffersonian democracy just isn't about to break out all over, now is it?
I like the folks who say Obama had nothing to do with what happened in Egypt....despite overt evidence showing otherwise, not to mention evidence showing Secret Service and CIA involvement in the 'grassroots' Arab Spring that wasn't in annnnny way organized by the Soros' of the world. Nope, that food rationing (which set off the powder keg in Egypt) was completely organic....oh wait, you all claim we controlled Mubarak....but we didn't control his actions? Incredibly solid logic there!
Just what you get when you encourage a hysterical mob of religious fanatics who worship a god invented by an adulterous mass murdering sex pervert pedophile who repeatedly raped a nine-year-old girl.
You say the Prophet Mohammad P.B.U.H was a murderer. Have you read the about the wars and killings in the Old Testament? Have you read the New Testament where the Prophet Jesus P.B.U.H made it clear that he came to fulfill the law of the Old Testament, as well as when he said "I come not to bring peace, but to bring a sword"? **This is far from an attack on the Bible but it's proof that you can easily make something sound horrible, when you approach it without knowledge. Which is why it would be sensible to know what you're talking about before you post a comment and make yourself sound like an ignorant bigot.**
You say the Prophet Mohammad P.B.U.H was sex pervert adulterous, a pedophile and he raped a nine-year old girl.
Do you have proof he committed adultery OR that he raped a nine-year old girl? NO YOU DON'T, BECAUSE THERE ISN'T BECAUSE HE DIDN'T.
Did you know that in EUROPE during the 1800's (and prior) marriage to a girl under twelve years old (12yrs) was a normal thing? **Records show that some were married as young as two and three years old (2-3yrs)**
Did you know the American colonies followed the same English traditions? **The age of marriage in the state of Delaware for females was seven years old (7yrs) in 1895**
Did you know that God in the Bible's original text (Aramaic) is Aalah? Did you know that Christian Arabs call God Allah?
(COPIED FROM MY PREVIOUS POSTS WITH MINOR ADJUSTMENTS BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT THE TIME TO TYPE A NEW REPLY)
Does anybody study history in the Middle East? Did they ever hear about the Middle Ages? The time when the Roman Empire crumbled and all these mini states ruled by power and fear. And there was no education and no art and no nothing...and it was a very dark time in human history...and finally the Renaissance (rebirth) came and the human race had art and science and colors and dance and... Why do these "Islamic" educated "Imama" want to go back to that because that is exactly what they are asking for when they try to impose some strange retro fit of religions that seems to me has nothing to do with anything except their own ignorance and quest for personal power..
Really? "No education, no art, no nothing" in the Middle Ages. Clearly you don't know much about the Middle Ages, lol. And BTW, much of the impetus for the Renaissance came from the Middle East. The so-called "Dark Ages" in Europe weren't so dark in most parts of the world.
And just to stir the pot a little, it isn't only the religious conservatives in the Middle East that want to turn back the clock. I'm pretty sure that many people in other parts of the world look at our Western culture and wonder why anybody would want to impose some kind of strange retro fit of religion that has nothing to with anything except their own ignorance and quest for power. It all depends on what you're used to.
I prefer our own culture. But I wasn't born and raised there...
Bill, the stupidity of religion knows no bounds.
Actually, if the Middle East went back to the Middle Ages that would be progress. Do you study the history of the Middle East? They inherited education and civilization from the Classical Era. Do a little research and you'll find that the Middle Ages were a very enlightened time for the Islamic Empires. Not to mention your thoughts on the Middle Ages in Europe are far off as well. There was education, there was art...I don't think you know as much on the subject as you think you do.
Bill! our favorite wealthy families support these people so they can stay wealthy and favorite. When you want to start killing these danherous religious clerics because they are all gangers, not just Crips and Bloods, but all doing one thing: keeping the wealthy rich and the poor homeless. No matter how good they look, there is no other reason for these religions. Soon it will be time to kill the political religious and make them an example for the future, before they do it to us.
Bill - Did you know that the "dark ages" refers to Europe only and that during that time the Middle East enjoyed great achievement in the arts and over all prosperity? The Bynzantine Empire did not crumble and the Islamic states took over much of what was the former Roman Empire. That part of the world remained culturally rich, filled with sophisticated art, music, poetry, and philosophy while Europeans were the ones living as you describe. In fact, while the rest of the world burned books and fell into illiteracy the arab states protected ancient texts in their libraries which we "rediscovered" during the crusades and played a role in the Renaissance. ("Renaissance humanists sought out in Europe's monastic libraries the Latin literary, historical, and oratorical texts of Antiquity, while theFall of Constantinople (1453) generated a wave of emigré Greek scholars bringing precious manuscripts in ancient Greek, many of which had fallen into obscurity in the West." - Wikipedia). Just saying. Kinda ironic that you're claiming folks don't know about history when you seem to have a haphazard grasp on it yourself.
Yep. Let's all move back to the 7th Century, buy half a dozen or more nine-year-old girls for wives, repeatedly rape them when they turn ten, enforce universal mysoginistic enslavement of women as chattel with no human rights whatsoever, start innumerable holy wars against our neighbors and start genocides against all cultures and nations who disagree so that we can all be properly and historically correct Islamists.
The arab spring smells like a sewer.
Yeah! Modern religion is the same as old religion. It all smells like rank@!$%#ina barrel. One of these days the people will raise up and demand that old religions disband or die.
I don't think anyone will rise up, religion will eventually just fade away as people, hopefully, become more educated and don't fear the fake invisible man in the sky.
God that resorts to the help of earthly court system to punish his offenders is no God. Prophet that can be insulted by words of mere mortals is no prophet. Or the religion in question has their understanding of God all wrong.
Those words may find you convicted in absentia of "defaming the religion in question" and sentenced to beheading in one of those "freedom loving" Arab Spring countries.
You, of course, have your understanding of God completely right.
LOL, when you're talking about a magical superbeing, any understanding of it is idiocy.
Do you doubt the U.S. "Christian Taliban" would not love to have this kind of control?
Yep, Larry, I do.
I would say that the liberals are the new Taliban in this country. Insisting on PC, the sordid attempt to strip Christians of their rights to practice religious tenets and forcing Americans to embrace gay mattiage when it goes against all their beliefs would seem to me to be the new "atheist taliban"!
Yeah because us Christians have killed and maimed thousands...get a life.
Maybe if you looked into your own crooked life you would find out why you feel so convicted over your Christian neighbors.
Linda, your statement is just too far off base to let go by unchecked.
Your first assertion is an opinion, you are entitled to it, no matter how bizarre and far from reality it is.
Your second assertion about liberals "Insisting on PC, the sordid attempt to strip Christians of their rights to practice religious tenets" is a mischaracterization in the extreme. Liberal minded folks want everyone to have the right to practice their religion, even Christians. If perhaps you are discussing the separation of church and state, then your thesis requires labeling our forefathers as Taliban.
Your third assertion that liberals are "forcing Americans to embrace gay mattiage (sic) when it goes against all their beliefs" completely mischaracterizes what is actually happening. Most liberals that support gay marriage simply want equal rights that other Americans have. What are you being forced to "embrace"? It should be of absolutely no concern to you how gay men and women wish to live their lives up to and including committing themselves to one another through marriage. The gay marraige movement does not change your straight life in the slightest. You are not forced to do anything. You are only asked to get out of the way of something that does not affect your world in the slightest.
Christians have killed and maimed thousands; even in the name of the religion.... get a history book
I wish Linda M would call me a liberal to my face. I just about hate people like her: athiest Taliban myass. Hey Linda! I can't wait until we start knocking off your clerics because they foster war, like you.
I am deeply opposed to gay mattiage as it sounds too kinky for words.
The Egyptian GOP! So frivolous! LOL
Jihad
Guess they don't understand the concept of "ACTING" either. Now I'm not saying they're the dumbest F*cks on the planet...but when you'd rather beat the Hell out of your wife and then go have sex with a goat or a camel...
Well would you say they're all that sharp? Naaa..aaaa...aaahhhhhhh!
You're 100% correct muslems are great at mussling people.
Let's leave the clams out of this.
O'muslim and Hillary must be dancing with joy.
Nothing to substantiate the claim, childish name calling - yes, I can see why we should all listen to your viewpoints.
The Joke is on them. "Offending islam." Now that's funny. What, is Satan upset that someone is Laughing AT him?
you have got to be some kind of gutsy to be a comedian in the middleast in this day and age.
Ain't that the truth? Well put!
Na, just make fun of anything "Western", that's a safe bet. Those crazy Americans and their freedom.
The phrase "big brass ones" comes to mind.
But we can not arrest Obama for insulting America? Remember his Apology Tour all over Europe?
I wasn't aware that "America" was a religion.....although there are conservatives in this country who would make it just that.
Is there a law in Egypt that says you can not say something offensive to Islam (or any other religion)? If there is, I guess we can now safely proclaim that Egypt is not a democratic state that recognizes basic fundamental human rights.
Just like in old good Soviet Union: the Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, but there's no guarantee of freedom after speech.
:-)
There is, and never will be, any freedom of, or freedom from, religion as long as Muslims walk this earth.
more2bits....your half right . as it is that way with all religions as they all try and take freedom from their followers. if you dont do what we say God will punish you . It was said God gave us a wonderfull gift. it was the freedom of choice. yet all religions want to take your freedom away your gift from God .
I do agree that the muslim islam clerics take it to the extreme only because many of their followers are ignorant and uneducated and they can .mind you I am not trying to be on the muslim side because I am not . but then you cant make a statement like that because at one time or another throughout our history that was said about pagans,christians,athiest and so on. and personally I rank christians right there with the muslims when it comes to violence and atrocities thoughout history and the world.
That darned Allah--no sense of humor. An ole stick-in-the-mud.
You stupid religious idiots are going to die by your own religion, and we're going to make sure we don't die with you. Good riddance and stay in hell next time.
Religion is a cancer in the collective human body, and it seems the worst of the tumor resides in the Middle East.
Funny, atheism seems to be more cancerous to me, with even worse results in various Eastern Block states. At least you can actually BE a Christian or atheist in Egypt.
Muslims are completely unfamiliar with the term "freedom". It simply is not a part of their vocabulary. They are incredibly uncivilized, dirty, dishonest, and ignorant. Their religion and government are ridiculous.
Do not let Obama hear you say that.
So this is the peaceful islamic religion that Obama keeps telling us is not to be feared?
Ah yes! Yet another compassionate, loving, caring, episode from an understanding, tolerant religious sect.
Wanna buy a bridge? One for a nickle! TWO for a dime.
What about the man in Afghanistan a couple of days ago, who murdered his wife because she gave birth to a baby girl, and he wanted a boy. Is that what Islam teaches? $10 says this man walks free, without even so much as a slap on the hand. That's what this stupid religion and people are all about !!!!!
Some of the dumb asses in this country want to welcome that Islamic BS here.
Sounds like progress to me--typically Muslims and Christian Fundies demand death for blasphemy.
so much for Egyptian spring! Can you imagine if everyone who slurred the Christian faith in America were sent to jail?
Good grief...at least half of Newsvine would be gone.
I wonder what they think of Achmed???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neTsQng-70o
What if God is more akin in personality to The Dude from The Big Lebowski than an overbearing father figure. These hardass religious folks are gonna be in for an unpleasant surprise.
They got it wrong. Islam is offensive to mankind. It should be tossed in the trash, so that the people of the middle east will free of most of their oppression. It's all about the freedom of the individual person to live a life fully without someone or something in control. These folks are in a position where they cannot question their religion or government without enduring severe corporal punishment.
If you are a Muslim, for your own sake, ask questions and protest as required to break free of the tyrany that controls your life. You do not have to answer to your Imam or government. You have to answer to Allah.
Furthermore, Allah did not create you to live under the control of someone else. You are created to be free, so fight for your freedom.