Muslims Block Bible-Burning In South Africa

[Zephie]

Muslim Group Gets Court Order Against Fellow Muslim

A judge in Johannesburg, South Africa, has blocked a plan by a Muslim to burn Bibles on the anniversary of Sept. 11.

An Islamic intellectual organization, Scholars of the Truth, had sought the order. It bans the burning of any holy books. “I’m very pleased the judge came to this decision. Not only did he ban this protest but he also banned other people from burning the Bible,” The Christian Scientist Monitor quoted plaintiff’s lawyer Yasmin Omar as saying.

The order also covers the burning of other holy books, including the Koran. Mohammed Vawda planned to burn the Bibles in response to a plan to burn hundreds of copies of the Koran in Gainesville, Florida. The preacher pushing the Florida book burning has backed down.

“What Mr. Vawda wanted to do is not just morally wrong but is an affront to Islam. We regard Jesus as a prophet who is part of the Koran so if he burns the Bible, he is burning part of the Koran,” said Omar.

There are an estimated 1 million Muslims in South Africa and 30 million Christians. Judge Sita Kolbe issued his ruling after a four-minute hearing.

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/6728577-muslims-block-bibleburning-in-south-africa

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Four minutes. Why couldn't the controversy end that quickly here?

[stray cat]

1. You want to pass a law making it illegal to burn any book?

[Pirate Smile]

2. Blame the First Amendment. Nobody said Freedom of Speech wasn't messy.

It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried. Sir Winston Churchill


Reminds me of people complaining about how much less efficient our (the USA) "Stimulus" was compared to China - because we have to pass laws through Congress instead of having a dictator just dictate.

We have people representing completely different constituencies who want different things and all want their piece of the pie.

Yeah, it's messy but it is better then the alternative.

[Chulanowa]

10. Please, let's not pretend free speech is an actual absolute in America

There are so many laws on the books that constrain where, when, how, and why you may use this right, that one on burning books wouldn't even cause a legal bat of the eye.

[Pirate Smile]

11. When it comes to banning political speech, the threshhold is very, very high.

[Chulanowa]

14. No it's not

[Donald Ian Rankin]

3. This is precisely why I think it is necessary to burn the Koran.

The controversy could end very quickly in America if the conclusion was "we will do away with the right to freedom of expression"; the reason it drags on is because people are still defending that right. And, at this stage, I think that saying "we will preserve that right, in exchange for agreeing not to exercise it" is not sufficient; I think it's reaching the point where the only way to preserve the right to burn the Koran is to do so.

[Igel]

7. That was the solution of the BBC commentator I heard.

He expressed near indignation that we didn't ban offensive speech and there was no law banning the burning of a Koran.

If the goal is to avoid indignation, of course, I'd have said the BBC should have been banned, but that was just me that day. I was wise enough not to attribute my personal indignation to an all-knowing, all-loving deity unexpectedly surprised by what was said and consequently desirous of squashing the offender in his hate and wrath.

[ZombieHorde]

4. Lame. Less freedom in exchange for some people not being offended.

Not a good trade.

[Boojatta]

5. "It bans the burning of any holy books."

The only remaining chore is classifying all the world's books into two categories: holy and unholy.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. It could, if a court decided that this was provocative

per a 2003 decision... Virginia Vs Black...

But I can bet that the ACLU would have filed an emergency petition.

And yes, in my reading of the statue, given that Jones was specific in his intent... Virgina v Black does apply... but it should be argued if that filing was done.

In the meantime I know that when I travel in the near future, usual precautions apply... regarding where I come from... a travel alert... will make airport security all kinds of fun.

[mjane]

8. because we have free speech

A judge cant issue an order that violates the 1st amendment.

A legislature can't pass a law ( a la anti-flag burning laws ) either.

That's a GOOD thing.

Free speech is dangerous.

In many countries, you can be prosecuted for "vilifying religion". This is the case in many european countries.

It is NOT the case here.

That's a good thing

[Rabrrrrrr]

9. Why not end so quickly here? Because of the damnable Bill of Rights that too many progressives

seem not to want any more.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[burrowowl]

12. K&R