Michelle Malkin has an item today about demands from the Gulf to pass laws forbidding the insulting of Islam.
Combined with the recent re-publication of the Danish Mo cartoons, these unacceptable acts of free speech have Muslim “scholars†demanding that heads roll.
About two years ago I saw a similar idea proposed by: A Jewish professor at an American university (under Jewish auspices)! Robert O. Freedman of the Baltimore Hebrew University recommended an International Religious Court of enforce civility among religions. LGF quoted from the article and wrote
It takes a lot to make my jaw drop these days, but here’s an op-ed in Baltimore’s Jewish Times that achieved this near-impossible feat.
The Volokh Conspiracy also quoted from the article, but was more clinical.
As you might gather, my reaction to this is much the same as my reaction to the “Defamation of Religions” argument I criticized below. Interestingly, unlike Prof. Ali Khan’s work, Dr. Friedman’s argument doesn’t even mention the possibility that the nation in which he lives might be constitutionally barred from going along with the orders of any such court.
My own problem with Dr. Freedman’s suggestion was whether this court could be a forum to take action against Muslims who destroyed shrines of other religions or if it was only meant to address Muslim sensitivities. And if it was the latter, would Muslims be able to take action against a country that allowed an apostate to live in its borders?
Crossposted on Soccer Dad.
I don’t see what the problem is here. According to Islam, only Islam is the one and only true religion.
Therefore, comments about other so-called religions can not be considered as insults to religion.
Now is that clear, or is a fatwa in order?
Well, as a Christian, I’m convinced that my religion is the only one and true religion, but I’m called to try to convince you through argument, discussion, and prayer, rather than fatwas.
Of course such a court wouldn’t concern itself with, oh, say, the destruction of Joseph’s tomb and other Jewish holy places by Muslim mobs. That sort of act is a result of Israeli opporession and while we can’t quite condone it, we do have to understand it.