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February 10, 2006
Man Faces Charges For Printing Koran On Toilet Paper
Topics: Understanding IslamThis certainly qualifies as the craziest story of the day.
According to the AP, a German businessman who printed the name of the Koran on toilet paper and offered the rolls for sale to mosques and media will face trial for disturbing the peace. The man, identified only as Manfred van H., is scheduled to go on trial Feb. 23 at a court in Luedinghausen in western Germany, Jochen Dyhr.
The "businessman" printed sheets of toilet paper last summer, with the sentence "Koran, the Holy Qur'aen" and sent them to about 15 mosques, television stations and magazines. Besides being a bit over the top in terms of Chutzpah, and being insensitive, in my mind it's still a free speech issue
Do I think it's insensitive and in very poor taste? Absolutely, but it shouldn't be illegal in a free and open democratic society.
In an accompanying letter, authorities say, he asserted that Islam's holy book is a "cookbook for terrorists" that calls for acts of violence.Again, this should be a free speech issue, not a criminal one. The man is certainly an insensitive jerk, and it may only be humorous to him, but it's still just a statement, not a crime.He proposed that a "memorial to all victims of Islamic terror" be set up, financed by sales of the toilet paper - an offer that prosecutors say he also posted on the Internet.
The businessman's offer led to criminal complaints and telephone death threats against him.
Prosecutors argue that the man's actions overstepped the legally guaranteed freedom to criticize other religions. They say he has cited his right to freedom of opinion and artistic expression, and said his aim was to provoke rather than actually sell the toilet paper.
Hat tip - Harry Owens
Posted by Richard at February 10, 2006 10:09 PM
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