Saudi writer charged with blasphemy
Published: Mar 19, 2010 00:06 Updated: Mar 19, 2010 00:06
JEDDAH: The Summary Court in Jeddah is expected to look into complaints raised by a number of people against a Saudi writer for allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The Saudi writer had allegedly described a Hadith of the Prophet as barbaric, during a program on Al-Hurra Channel, which is presented by Nadeen Al-Badr.
Sources told Arab News that the court had sent a copy of the lawsuit filed against the man to Justice Minister Muhammad Al-Eissa in order to seek his opinion on the issue.
The plaintiffs have presented audio and visual evidence to prove their argument. They want the court to give the writer a strong punishment in accordance with the Shariah law.
The Saudi plaintiffs said the writer’s action would not be accepted by any Muslim who is proud of his religion. They said such actions would not be tolerated in the land of the Two Holy Mosques.
The plaintiffs have presented a copy of the writer’s interview with the television channel to the court along with their complaint in which they accused the writer of attacking the prophet’s personality.
This is the second lawsuit filed against media organizations and media persons for allegedly insulting the Hadith or Sayings of the Prophet.
Previously a group of Saudis filed a lawsuit against Al Arabiya Channel and one of its program presenters. A verdict has not yet been issued on the case.
Sheikh Abdullah Al-Othaim, chief justice at the summary court in Jeddah, said in a previous statement that the case had been passed to the Justice Ministry to look into it or transfer it to the Ministry of Culture and Information.

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