Scholars call for international law to against religious insults

The re-publication of the Prophet cartoons by seventeen Danish newspapers last week was denounced by Muslims the world over. The controversy is not one of press freedom, but rather it feeds cycles of hatred and ignorance which only increase the gulfs between religions, according to the Prime Minister, Dr. Ali Mohammed Mujawr, in a support meeting organized by the Al-Eman University last Monday calling for defending the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).

In his speech, Mujwar called for an international law that criminalizes religious insults and enforces mutual respect of religions, calling on all rationalists in the West to avoid such negative acts. “This can only increase the instability in relations among Islamic and Western nations,” said Mujwar.

The publication of these cartoons has nothing to do with press freedom, a device used by some as a shield to insult others. This was an act that violates human values, laws and rights, satisfying only the devilish whims of those who put the cartoons to print, said Mujwar.

Mujwar then urged all religious scholars, preachers, and university professors present to show the story of Mohammed (PBUH) and his great rectitude to young generations as a model and to show how any damage to Muslims feelings will further hatred, extremism, and clashes between civilizations. 

Religious scholar, Mohammed Ismael al-Hjji, asserted that insulting the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) is an insult to all religions and urged all Arabian and Islamic nations to boycott all those who scorn Islam and Muslims. He also ordered the Yemeni parliament to issue a law that criminalizes anybody dealing with those who insult Islam in any way.

The sheikh of all sheikhs in Yemen, Sadeq Abdullah bin Hussien al-Ahmr, said that one’s freedom ends where another’s freedoms begins, and that freedom does not allow one to trespass other’s. “Muslims today stand unified against a clear and organized attack on all Islamic symbols,” said al-Ahmr.

Al-Ahmr said the hidden goals behind the republication of the cartoons is to spread the culture of terrorism, violence, and hatred and to record the angry reactions from some Muslims as to be their alibi to attack Muslims in their war against terror that they aim to associate with Islam. 

He then asked all Arabian nations to take strict actions to defend Islam and the prophet and to boycott all Danish products. 

Rector of the Al-Eman University, Shiek Abdul-Majeed al-Zindani, said that insults like the ones the Danish newspapers printed are a tactic used by one who is bankrupt and helpless and that insults are organized for a purpose. Al-Zindani also announced that the University is now working to launch its satellite Arabic-English channel for the purpose of clearing any misunderstanding about Islam and to help show the real image of Islam that Western media often distort. He said the Arabian and Islamic nations can help in showing the real image of Islam and that its teachings that are based on peace, love and forgiveness.

Al-Zindani then suggested that an Arabian and Islamic union similar to the European Union be established to unify the calls of Muslims and stress the strength of Islamic calls, confirming that unifying Islamic nations will halt those who insult Islam and Muslims.

All MP’s that attended the meeting agreed that this provocative act by the Danish newspapers will only worsen relations between Muslims and the West and is considered an extremist and terrorist act.
 
Mohamed Ali al-Shaddadi, MP, then talked about the efforts done by the Parliament which has sent letters to Arabian and European parliaments to issue a law that criminalizes insults of religions. 

Tradesmen and men of industry participated in this gathering, stressing the duty of boycotting those religious insults. 

The crowd then approved to establish a Yemeni committee to defend the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), issued a statement denouncing the cartoons, and called for an Islamic conference to be held at the Mudena Monwarh in KSA to study this attack against the prophet and come up with plans to defend Islam. The statement also urged all Arabs and Muslims to boycott all products of those who insult Islam. 

Those who attended the gathering included ministers, members of parliament, members of Shura Council, and those concerned with diplomatic missions in Yemen. 

Related Content

•  Yemeni artifacts redline
•  Two kidnapped Japanese tourists set free
•  Tribal mediation starts to free Japanese tourists kidnapped in Mareb
•  Mediation committee back in Sa’adah
•  French suspect in smuggling case released on bail
•  Journalists demand improvments in freedom and professional standards in Yemen media
•  Al-Wasat comes back by court sentence against minister’s decree
•  Cabinet orders closure of monopolizing diesel stations
•  Customs Training Institute attacked by two mortars
•  Senior official denies closure of UN offices