Two incidents that were reported in the local press this past week have shown that while the government is taking positive strides to stamp out fanaticism, there yet remain pockets of hard-line resistance, and sometimes from those appointed by the government.
In the first instance, Muhammad Al-Harbi, a Saudi high school teacher who had been accused of questioning religion, was sentenced to three years in prison and 750 lashes in the town of Al-Bikeriya in Al-Qassim.
The second incident occurred a couple of days later when mischief-makers defaced the car and smashed the windshield of Rabah Al-Quwayi, a reporter for the Arabic daily Okaz posted in the town of Hail. His raising questions on the case of Muhammad Al-Harbi, and posting his doubts on the Internet apparently angered them. A note in Arabic left on the broken windshield left its ominous message: “In the name of God, the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful: This time it is your car but next time it is you. Return to your religion and forsake heresy. This is the last warning.” From published reports, teacher Al-Harbi’s crime was simply to spread the message of the dangers of extremism and terrorism, and he did so with fervor at the school he was posted. His sermons of tolerance and the rejection of any form of violence against the innocent regardless of faith were perceived as threatening and an act of blasphemy by a few of his hard-line colleagues.
It wasn’t long before some students along with a few of the teachers filed a lawsuit against Al-Harbi for his “un-sacrilegious” views. “He was accused of mocking Islam, favoring Jews and Christians, preventing students from performing ablutions. He was also charged with studying witchcraft.” During the trial, the judge did not question anyone from the school except for the students and the teachers who filed the lawsuit. “I asked the court to talk to the principal and anyone from the school, but the judge refused,” said Al-Harbi.
After his sentencing, Abdul Rahman Al-Lahem, Al-Harbi’s lawyer, stated the sentence was illegal. “Any case that has to do with sacrilege must be heard in a special religious court and not in a regular one. The judge did not give the defendant the right to interrogate the witnesses,” said Al-Lahem. He also refused to acknowledge Al-Lahem as the defendant’s lawyer.
Al-Harbi was deemed guilty the moment he appeared before the judge, with certain liberties taken of the due process of law as noted by his lawyer. And while Al-Harbi’s lawyer intends to appeal the sentence, the teacher faces his three years of incarceration and 750 lashes.
This is an opportune time for our very own Human Rights Association to step in and flex their muscle. Al-Harbi’s case should be turned over to the proper judicial authorities, and the defendant must be allowed to present his case. His lawyer should be recognized to defend him. All facts relating to this case must be deemed as evidence. What should not be on trial are Al-Harbi’s arguments and beliefs against extremism and terrorism.
In the case of the journalist Rabah Al-Quwayi, the police in Hail must be pressured to locate and bring those criminals to swift justice. His appeal to the Journalist Association must be taken seriously by that body, or else they shall remain toothless tigers. We cannot allow our thoughts and tolerance to be held hostage to any extreme view. And in this the government must act strongly and swiftly. For only when actions are taken to quickly and severely punish the perpetrators, the message sent out will be loud and clear: We will not tolerate any form of extremism or the promotion of terrorism!
In the meantime I shall recruit two hungry Dobermans for added protection.
