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Blasphemy and Islam - Our fundamental rights are under attack.
National Review Online ^ | December 15, 2012 | Andrew C. McCarthy

Posted on 12/16/2012 1:18:03 PM PST by neverdem

In Cairo on Wednesday, a Coptic Christian blogger named Alber Saber was convicted of blasphemy and “contempt of religion.” There’s a tragic irony: As any of the country’s Christians can tell you, contempt of religion is not merely permitted but encouraged in the new, post-Mubarak Egypt. What is criminal, what has become increasingly perilous, is any criticism of Islam.

Nor is truth a defense. Another Egyptian court recently upheld the blasphemy conviction of Makarem Diab, also a Coptic Christian. Diab had gotten into a discussion with a Muslim acquaintance, Abd al-Hameed, who, in the course of mocking Diab’s faith, insisted that Jesus was a serial fornicator. Diab countered Hameed’s baseless taunt with an assertion most Islamic scholars regard as accurate: namely, that Mohammed had more than four wives. Yet, because the context of Diab’s assertion evinced an intention to cast Islam’s prophet in an unfavorable light, Diab was prosecuted for “insulting the prophet” and “provoking students.” He was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment.

This is now everyday life in Egypt. It is also certain to be the future of Egypt. The overwhelmingly Islamist population, having first elected Islamic supremacists led by the Muslim Brotherhood to top leadership positions, is now poised to adopt a constitution that is founded on sharia, Islam’s totalitarian legal framework, and that expressly enshrines these blasphemy standards. But the problem is not just sharia in Egypt. Sharia is here.

About three weeks ago, another Egyptian court sentenced seven people to death after convicting them in absentia on blasphemy charges. Most of the seven are in the United States. Most of them are Coptic Christians; one is a Florida-based pastor who is a blistering critic of Islamic scripture. The charges relate to the defendants’ alleged involvement in “Innocence of Muslims,” an obscure amateur video that Islamists have frivolously cited as a pretext for their latest round of international mayhem — and that the Obama administration has fraudulently portrayed as the catalyst of a massacre in Benghazi in which jihadists killed four Americans, including our ambassador to Libya.

So how has President Obama responded to the Egyptian government’s human-rights violations, its failure to protect the Copts from persecution (indeed, its willing participation in that persecution), and its provocations against Americans — which now include ordering their killing, through a kangaroo-court process that flouts our due-process standards, over their engagement in activity that is expressly protected by our Constitution?

Well . . . the president has announced that not only will he continue funding Egypt’s Islamist government, but he intends to include in that U.S. aid the provision of 20 F-16 fighter jets. Moreover, Obama is continuing his administration’s collaboration with the 57-government Organization of Islamic Cooperation on the “Istanbul Process.” That is the OIC’s campaign to impose sharia’s repressive blasphemy standards.

The most recent aggression in this blasphemy enterprise — a years-long, carefully plotted OIC campaign to snuff out American free-speech rights under the guise of “defamation of religion” — is U.N. Human Rights Council Resolution 16/18. It calls on Western governments to outlaw “any advocacy of religious hatred against individuals that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.”

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has zealously colluded with the OIC in seeking the implementation of 16/18. Notwithstanding her contortions, it is a gross violation of the First Amendment. Our law permits the criminalization of incitement to violence only when an agitator willfully calls for violence. Our Constitution does not abide what the resolution is designed to achieve: the heckler’s veto and, worse, the suppression of speech predicated on mob intimidation — the legitimation of barbaric lawlessness.

Nor does the Constitution’s guarantee of free expression tolerate the outlawing of speech that prompts discrimination, much less hostility. And contrary to administration hairsplitting, it makes no difference that the resolution would not “criminalize” expression that prompts discrimination or hostility. To quote the First Amendment, “Congress shall make no law” suppressing protected speech. It does not say “Congress shall make no criminal law.” No law means no law — no civil law, rule, regulation, guideline, etc.

As the framers understood, virtually everything we actually need a government for can be handled — more responsively and thus more responsibly — at the local and state level. There is one essential reason for having a federal government, and one principal reason for the creation of the office of President of the United States: to protect our citizens in the exercise of their fundamental rights from hostile foreign forces.

Our fundamental rights are now under attack. As far as that is concerned, it is of little moment that the Egyptian government, joined by its Islamist confederates, threatens our lives and our liberties through court orders and resolutions — through lawfare rather than violent jihad. We are every bit as much under siege.

What is of great moment is that the president has joined the hostile forces against us, against Americans whose protection is the sole reason for the federal government’s existence.

If that is to be Washington’s posture, what do we need it for? It is bad enough when Leviathan cannot tell America’s friends from America’s enemies. But what is the point of a federal government that cannot tell America’s enemies from America? Or that can tell perfectly well, but chooses to fight for the wrong side?

— Andrew C. McCarthy is a senior fellow at the National Review Institute and the executive director of the Philadelphia Freedom Center. He is the author, most recently, of Spring Fever: The Illusion of Islamic Democracy, which was published by Encounter Books.



TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: andymccarthy; blasphemy; blasphemylaws; crushislam; hillaryclintonoic; islam; islamofascism; oic; qitalislam
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1 posted on 12/16/2012 1:18:10 PM PST by neverdem
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To: neverdem

Islam has a sh** hole religion, read The Islamic Anti Christ.


2 posted on 12/16/2012 1:27:12 PM PST by boomop1 (term limits will only save this country.)
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To: neverdem

Could pointing out the mere fact that Mohammed is a cur be seriously considered blasphemy? Surely our friends on the left wouldn’t object to a display of his effigy submerged in urine at the very least.


3 posted on 12/16/2012 1:32:29 PM PST by VR-21
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To: neverdem

Let’s just assume that 0bama is a moslem conqueror who is forcing us to submit to his ‘will’ of islam, or die, by our own hands and laws. Either way, it’s no concern to him or his fake tears. “America may not succeed, but my children will.”

Let’s also assume that Hillary, who agreed to the OIC’s 10-year plan to implement shari’a worldwide, in a speech in Turkey in 2010, really has a pass for being a lesbian. By having her lover, Huma, have a baby, they can both hide their adherence to islam and the moslem sisterhood under some guise of a decree okay’d by some imam in Saudi. So, this OKs H3ll not ‘testifying’ or having to ‘answer’ questions on the Benghazi assassinations-and our ‘government’ being OK with that.

We think this way, and everything, from 2/2009 on, makes perfect sense. The reason for the DHS memo, F&F, Deathcare, the ‘Stimulus,’ the Gulf oil terrorism, the shutting down of our energy, the Arab spring-into-action, Pigford and QE and solar scams. Ft. Hood and so many other moslem attacks on us. AfgPak ROE and our guys’ deaths. The SEALS deaths. Breitbart’s death. The mass shootings that somehow always end up being a ‘lone gunman.’ The division. The hate espoused for the rich, which will, any day now, start to become the evil Jew-or Christian.

Everything falls into place like Chinese checkers, if you just entertain this idea.


4 posted on 12/16/2012 1:49:56 PM PST by combat_boots (The Lion of Judah cometh. Hallelujah. Gloria Patri, Filio et Spiritui Sancto!)
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To: neverdem

The whole premise of Islam is like a house of cards. That is why it cannot stand criticism, and it’s reaction is to kill the critic lest the house fall.

“How Firm a Foundation, Ye Saints of the Lord”
by “Keen,” 1787, alt.

1. How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said
Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.


5 posted on 12/16/2012 1:59:03 PM PST by Ruy Dias de Bivar (SAVE THE SUMATRAN RAT MONKEY!)
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To: neverdem
F mo, F allah, F islam, all their adherents, supporters and apologists.
6 posted on 12/16/2012 2:02:51 PM PST by MrBambaLaMamba (This Message Contains Privileged Attorney-Client Communications)
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To: boomop1

I find everything about islam offensive.

I do not fear islam, I despise it. I despise all that it stands for. I despise it’s practitioners and its goals. I despise its false prophet, and the culture of death that he and his followers have spawned.


7 posted on 12/16/2012 2:04:13 PM PST by Ouderkirk (Obama has turned America into an aristocracy of the unaccomplished.)
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To: Ad Orientam; antonius; aposiopetic; arielguard; blinachka; bob808; branicap; Calabash; ...
Orthodox Ping!

O heavenly King, O Comforter, the Spirit of Truth
who are in all places and fillest all things:
Treasury of good things and Giver of life:
Come and dwell in us and cleanse us from every stain,
and save our souls, O good One.

8 posted on 12/16/2012 2:48:01 PM PST by lightman (If the Patriarchate of the East held a state like the Vatican I would apply for political asylum.)
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To: Ouderkirk

Only fear God.


9 posted on 12/16/2012 2:52:46 PM PST by boomop1 (term limits will only save this country.)
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To: combat_boots

No reason to assume, C_B, it’s obvious.

Prepare for action. The time is at hand.


10 posted on 12/16/2012 3:44:55 PM PST by bayouranger (The 1st victim of islam is the person who practices the lie.)
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To: neverdem
Good evening. We do live in interesting times.

I would like to wish all of the Mohammedans out there a very MERRY CHRISTMAS. Peace on earth, and goodwill to men (and women...especially women).

5.56mm

11 posted on 12/16/2012 3:58:49 PM PST by M Kehoe
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To: neverdem
I would highly recommend Andrew McCarthy's book: The Grand Jihad: How Islam and the Left Sabotage America.
12 posted on 12/16/2012 4:06:18 PM PST by windsorknot
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To: wardaddy; Joe Brower; Cannoneer No. 4; Criminal Number 18F; Dan from Michigan; Eaker; Jeff Head; ...
Don’t be afraid, Mr. President (Make our day gun grabbers!)

Even in Medical School, Affirmative Action Rules

The Doctor Won’t See You Now - American health care is in a bureaucratic death grip. (Mark Steyn)

Of course: Massachusetts governor thinking of appointing Ted Kennedy’s widow to Senate vacancy

Some noteworthy articles about politics, foreign or military affairs, IMHO, FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.

13 posted on 12/16/2012 5:29:50 PM PST by neverdem ( Xin loi min oi)
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To: combat_boots

let me simplify all that ~ Obama is stupid and Hillary really does have a brain concussion ~ and that’s not the first time!


14 posted on 12/16/2012 5:43:09 PM PST by muawiyah
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To: neverdem

See tagline.


15 posted on 12/16/2012 6:06:00 PM PST by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: neverdem

That’s Sharia -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clswG9SFY8I


16 posted on 12/16/2012 6:23:04 PM PST by doug from upland (Obama and the leftists - destroying our country one day at a time)
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To: neverdem

Here’s blasphemy; come and get me. The guy was a child molestor.

MOMAMMED’S GIRL - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQagzS3NYSI


17 posted on 12/16/2012 6:26:50 PM PST by doug from upland (Obama and the leftists - destroying our country one day at a time)
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To: neverdem

FUBO & Fislam. TREASON & Totalitarianism.

HOORAY Andrew McCarthy! Thanks for posting, neverdem.


18 posted on 12/16/2012 7:24:35 PM PST by PGalt
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To: neverdem; lightman

Our Father among the Saints John of Damascus knew ALL about islam in the 8th century:

http://orthodoxinfo.com/general/stjohn_islam.aspx

If you study St. John’s life, you must conclude that he knew what he was talking about—he was the chief minister to the Caliph, as was his father before him.

Do Professors Esposito, Sells, etc.—not to mention Hillary, Albright, both Rices, etc. have anywhere near the qualifications that St. John of Damascus has? I think not!


19 posted on 12/16/2012 8:27:33 PM PST by Honorary Serb (Kosovo is Serbia! Free Srpska! Abolish ICTY!)
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To: neverdem

b4l


20 posted on 12/16/2012 8:48:25 PM PST by Oratam
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