It is very easy to label a writer or a thinker a heretic. It is equally easy to cast aspersions on the character of a responsible official or an artist these days on the Internet. The matter, however, becomes much more serious when the unidentifiable perpetrators of character assassination dare to call for the actual assassination of thinkers or writers who disagree with the extremists. A call for assassination in the name of religion is not something to be taken lightly.
We cannot afford to remain passive spectators to such highly reprehensible acts. It is imperative that necessary inquiries be made to discover who is guilty of inciting people to commit criminal acts. Legal steps should be initiated against the guilty before the evil tendency gets out of control.
I am prompted to write this note because an anonymous extremist, hiding behind such pseudonyms as ‘An Aspirant to Martyrdom’, has recently made a call to assassinate Turki Al-Hamad, the well-known Saudi novelist and writer.
The extremist wants to know the precise location of "the heretic’s" house so that the offender can be easily killed. I hope that Al-Hamad will forgive me for using the extremist label — heretic — in referring to him. I have seen some very disturbing material about Al-Hamad on various Arabic websites and of course, I have no way of knowing who posted the material. A call to assassinate Al-Hamad certainly appeared on the famous website Al-Saha Al-Arabia (http://alsaha.fares.net/sahat?14@228.BKr9bumv1OE^[email protected].)
This particular site is a favorite of rumor-seekers, rumor-mongers and those who are looking for false accusations. The site belongs to (Fares.net), A UAE based internet website which is proud of its "alsaha" and even describes it as "the first site for Arab dialogue, which have triggered Internet controversy by featuring the hottest dialogues from distinguished visitors."
A legally established company such as Fares.net should be held responsible for what is on its sites I appeal to Al-Hamad, the victim, to file a suit against the company. All members of the journalistic and media community should rally behind him. Demanding an apology in addition to damages for the harm done him. Some kind of self-discipline should become a part of Arabic Internet sites. Actions by journalists and media personnel will also serve as a deterrent to irresponsible calls made by paranoid people attempting to distort Islam.
I make no attempt to conceal the fact that I am often at odds with Turki Al-Hamad. I particularly disagree with his views on political Islam which he rejects and often receive harsh criticism from him. At the same time, I have sufficient moral courage, unlike the anonymous extremist, to disagree with Al-Hamad in the media or in a public discussion.
My call is not one advocating censorship of Internet sites; my call is to seek an end to the practice of inciting crimes on Internet sites with impunity. The fact is that it is the Internet, which has freed Arab intellectuals from the clutches of the censors.
If we remain silent about the lies being circulated by some cowardly people who feel sure they cannot be caught, the situation will only grow worse.
I wonder why a so-called reputable and well-established company can possibly justify publishing an open invitation to a serious crime such as murder on its easily accessible website.
21 July 2002
