Thursday, October 14, 2010

Religious tolerance? What religious tolerance?

Charges against WA man baseless
Andrea Hayward
October 14, 2010 - 8:49AM 


AAP





Egyptian authorities have today confirmed they have detained an Australian man who reportedly disappeared after participating in a televised debate on religion.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said consular officials from the Australian Embassy in Cairo had requested access to Safaa Al Awadi, 44.
However, the Egyptian General Prosecutor had yet to grant access.
"The Department of Foreign Affairs in Canberra is providing consular assistance to the man's family in Western Australia," she said.
News Limited reported that Mr Al Awadi was in custody accused of being a terrorist and spreading a false religion.
It says he went missing after he took part in a religious debate on Egyptian television.
The daughter of the man detained in Egypt for insulting religion says charges against him are baseless.
Safaa Al Awadi, 44, was charged with insulting religion and denying the tenets of faith, following a television debate about religion in Egypt.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman said Australian consular officers were granted access to Mr Al Awadi in a Cairo prison on Sunday and again on Wednesday.
Mr Al Awadi appeared at the Supreme State Security Prosecution Office in Cairo on Monday and in court on Tuesday.
His detention has been extended for 15 days.
Mr Al Awadi's daughter Zeinab said there was no evidence for the charges against her father.
"They say the charge was despising the religion of Islam and putting extremist views," she told ABC Radio on Thursday.
"Obviously they have no evidence of that, because that's not true.
"We're not here to put extremist views; we're here to call people to unite the three religions, Islam, Christianity and Judaism."
Mr Al Awadi's detention for almost three weeks was both distressing and frustrating for his family.
"Until now they have no evidence about any of what they have said at all, no evidence at all," Ms Al Awadi said.
Mr Al Awadi will be questioned again by Egyptian authorities on Thursday.
DFAT is providing consular assistance to Mr Al Awadi's family.


It appears that in Islam there are two norms of religious tolerance.

Christians should turn the other cheek to muslim insults and demands about the Christian faith, but should never ever discuss the faith of Islam.

To do so would bring down upon their heads the wrath of Allah and his representatives on earth.

Watch out western world, we are heading down a very dangerous path of religious tolerance. Turn the other cheek yes, but defend your beliefs when they are being assailed or else very soon our children will be bowing down towards Mecca.
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