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Bassem Raafat Muhammad Youssef the 39 year old Egyptian cardiac surgeon, satirist, and TV host of El Bernameg a satirical news program broadcasted by Egyptian television was summoned and interrogated by Egyptian authorities after being charged with insulting President Mohamed Morsi, denigrating Islam, and spreading false news. Abby Ohlheiser in an article published on Slate titled ‘"Egypt's Jon Stewart" Has It Tougher Than America's Version’ states “… out on bail now, but activists and critics are watching this one closely for the precedent it sets on the new government's stance towards freedom of expression. …He's commonly called the Egyptian version of Jon Stewart, and for good reason: Youssef modeled his widely-watched show after his comedic idol's Daily Show. …Youssef is also a heart surgeon who treated the wounded after a notoriously brutal attempt by the Mubarak regime to drive protesters from Tahrir square. … Youssef turns his satirical eye toward those in power, whether that means mocking the military, or its elected successors, the current government who took office in June. Now, it looks like Youssef could become the most prominent test case for the new Muslim Brotherhood-led government's commitment to the democratic process that put it into power. Egyptian journalists, as the BBC explains, have already argued that the new Islamist-influenced constitution doesn't do nearly enough to protect freedom of the press, expression, or religious minorities in the country. …Youssef, who is Muslim, [states] "We are not the ones who insult religion, all we do is expose the channels that have misused religion and harmed it more than anyone else. If there is anyone who has insulted religion it is those who use Islam as a weapon for political reasons." … Youssef posted a tweet in English to his one million-plus followers saying he was "touched by people's support and media attention, however, there are many more activists being prosecuted that deserve to get that support."  Inspired by Abby Ohlheiser, Slate ow.ly/k6BVR Image source TheWorld ow.ly/k6BR3 We are not the ones who insult religion (May 7 2013)

Bassem Raafat Muhammad Youssef the 39 year old Egyptian cardiac surgeon, satirist, and TV host of El Bernameg a satirical news program broadcasted by Egyptian television was summoned and interrogated by Egyptian authorities after being charged with insulting President Mohamed Morsi, denigrating Islam, and spreading false news. Abby Ohlheiser in an article published on Slate titled ‘”Egypt’s Jon Stewart” Has It Tougher Than America’s Version’ states “… out on bail now, but activists and critics are watching this one closely for the precedent it sets on the new government’s stance towards freedom of expression. …He’s commonly called the Egyptian version of Jon Stewart, and for good reason: Youssef modeled his widely-watched show after his comedic idol’s Daily Show. …Youssef is also a heart surgeon who treated the wounded after a notoriously brutal attempt by the Mubarak regime to drive protesters from Tahrir square. … Youssef turns his satirical eye toward those in power, whether that means mocking the military, or its elected successors, the current government who took office in June. Now, it looks like Youssef could become the most prominent test case for the new Muslim Brotherhood-led government’s commitment to the democratic process that put it into power. Egyptian journalists, as the BBC explains, have already argued that the new Islamist-influenced constitution doesn’t do nearly enough to protect freedom of the press, expression, or religious minorities in the country. …Youssef, who is Muslim, [states] “We are not the ones who insult religion, all we do is expose the channels that have misused religion and harmed it more than anyone else. If there is anyone who has insulted religion it is those who use Islam as a weapon for political reasons.” … Youssef posted a tweet in English to his one million-plus followers saying he was “touched by people’s support and media attention, however, there are many more activists being prosecuted that deserve to get that support.”

 

Inspired by Abby Ohlheiser, Slate ow.ly/k6BVR Image source TheWorld ow.ly/k6BR3

The insult, the injury and indignities of empire (October 5 2012) The insult, the injury and indignities of empire (October 5 2012)

Abdullah Al-Arian the 31 year old Assistant Professor of history specializing in the modern Middle East has published an article on Aljazeera titled ‘The insult, the injury and the indignities of empire’, citing during colonial times, scathing critiques of Islam were often met by Muslims with thoughtful and measured responses. Al-Arian states “…the United States and its European allies hope to absolve themselves of any culpability for the recurring hostility expressed by populations in the Middle East and beyond. To deny historical experiences and current political realities allows one to miss the point entirely: that the offence caused by the steady flow of anti-Islamic cultural production is quite literally adding insult to injury. And it is much easier for all of those involved to focus on the insult rather than the injury. There is little new in the amateurish hate-filled film that emerged out of the bowels of an Islamophobia industry that has picked up considerable steam in the last decade. Aside from trading the physical soapbox for the digital one of YouTube, anti-Islamic screeds have not evolved much since the era of the Crusades, relying primarily on a thoroughly discredited historical narrative of Prophet Muhammad’s life and mission that acted as a kind of medieval war propaganda. …Anyone seeking to understand the recent upheavals need only contrast the latest response with historical ones. Internal Muslim condemnations against the protests have relied primarily on Muhammad’s example of ignoring insults against his person. But in fact, there is a long tradition of Muslim tolerance for insults against their faith and its founder.”

 

Inspired by Aljazeera ow.ly/e0c6S image source usavsalarian ow.ly/e0cnQ

Controversial figure in Netherlands and abroad (September 29 2012) Controversial figure in Netherlands and abroad (September 29 2012)

Geert Wilders the 49 year old Dutch far-right politician, founder and leader of the Party for Freedom the fourth-largest political party in the Netherlands best known for his criticism of Islam, summing up his views by saying, “I don’t hate Muslims, I hate Islam”, views that have made him a controversial figure in the Netherlands and abroad. Anno Bunnik has published an article on Aljazeera titled ‘The rise and fall of Geert Wilders?’ stating “…Wilders is labelled the sorcerer’s apprentice. Trained by one of the most prominent Dutch politicians in recent decades – “sorcerer” Frits Bolkesteijn – Wilders transformed from a relatively unknown Member of Parliament into the most outspoken and influential politician in the Netherlands. But his magic seems to have worn off, as Dutch voters are increasingly getting tired of his yearning for political hysteria. …Even when Wilders-admirer Anders Breivik slaughtered 77 children and young adults in Norway it did not harm his position. PVV-voters are able to distinguish between a terrorist and a legitimate politician, even if they share similar views. Nothing seemed to stop Wilders rise to power. …Wilders, however, failed to observe … the majority of voters simply do not want more political crises, but instead long for politicians to take up their responsibilities – even if that means tough austerity measures. Not a single person that I spoke to in recent weeks, irrespective of their background, is really looking forward to yet another general election. Most voters hold Wilders accountable for tearing down the minority government and blame him for prioritising his own interest over national interest.”

 

Inspired by Anno Bunnik ow.ly/dPe4t image source Twitter ow.ly/dPeGA

Ahmed Daak the Sudanese lecturer of medical biochemistry along with Harry Verhoeven a specialist researcher on conflict, development and environment in the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes Region has published an article titled ‘The battle for the soul of the Islamic world’. The article published on Aljazeera discusses the Islamists and Salafis battle ‘for prominence in forging new political realities in the Islamic world’. They state in the article “The new realities emerging from the Arab Spring are demonstrating that Islam will occupy a key position in the political debate from Morocco to Indonesia. Yet what remains unclear is whether this will lead to greater societal cohesion or increased tensions within the Islamic world and between it and outside actors. To understand what the future might look like, we must analyse the struggle within the camp of the pious believers: reformist Islamists versus archconservative Salafis. …For all their differences, important similarities exist between Salafis and Islamists. The choice is not between “Westernisation” and “traditional Islam”: neither camp belongs to the caricature categories of the GWOT [Global War on Terror]. Both are products of modernity, who think about politics and religion in deeply modern ways and who respond to modernisation through discourses, institutions and ideas that are solidly rooted in 21st century imaginations.”

 

Inspired by Aljazeera ow.ly/bq8Au image source Facebook ow.ly/bq8gp

Benoit Julien de Pommerol a French military chaplain stationed in Afghanistan has been reassigned to the French Antilles following accusations of Islamophobia in a report he wrote published on the internet. In the report de Pommerol denounced the French army’s deference to Islam as “babouche-licking”, citing examples including of a female soldier forced to wear a head covering veil and preparation of religious feasts for nationals. The French army officials rejected de Pommerol’s accusations claiming “it’s a matter of courtesy, common sense and education to respect other people’s religion” attempting to try and “earn acceptance by respecting local customs” and were specific decisions “made in a specific operational context.” The report has played into the national sensitivities that have grown towards Islam in France, resulting in tense anti-islamic reactions. Inspired by Nathalie Guibert ow.ly/5DfX4  image source Military Photos ow.ly/5DfIJ Accused the army of babouche-licking (July 26 2011)

Benoit Julien de Pommerol a French military chaplain stationed in Afghanistan has been reassigned to the French Antilles following accusations of Islamophobia in a report he wrote published on the internet. In the report de Pommerol denounced the French army’s deference to Islam as “babouche-licking”, citing examples including of a female soldier forced to wear a head covering veil and preparation of religious feasts for nationals. The French army officials rejected de Pommerol’s accusations claiming “it’s a matter of courtesy, common sense and education to respect other people’s religion” attempting to try and “earn acceptance by respecting local customs” and were specific decisions “made in a specific operational context.” The report has played into the national sensitivities that have grown towards Islam in France, resulting in tense anti-islamic reactions.

 

Inspired by Nathalie Guibert http://ow.ly/5DfX4  image source Military Photos http://ow.ly/5DfIJ

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