Kuwait approves death penalty for blasphemy

Kuwait's parliament has passed a bill authorizing the death penalty for Muslims who curse their god, the Qu'ran, its prophets and the wives of Mohammed. Defendants who repent will be spared capital punishment and will be given five years imprisonment and a fine of $36,000. Non-Muslims face a jail term of a maximum 10 years.

"We do not want to execute people with opinions ? because Islam respects these people," said MP Ali al-Deqbasi, "but we need this legislation because incidents of cursing God have increased. We need to deter them."

Blasphemy is already illegal under Kuwait's publications law and under the penal code as slander or libel. At present it carries a jail term, the length of which depends on the severity of the comments and their perceived effect on society.

The vote for the death penalty came after authorities arrested Sh'ia Hamad al-Naqia for allegedly cursing Mohammed, his wife and companions on Twitter last March. The Kuwaiti parliament approved the draft law by a majority of 40 to six.

Amnesty International has described the law as 'a flagrant breach of the country's international human rights obligations'.  

From the UK National Secular Society Newsletter and their web site: 

http://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2012/05/kuwait-approves-death-penalty-for-blasphemy

This is sickening

And to those who argue that Islam doesn't prescribe the death penalty for blasphemy:

Narrated Abdullah Ibn Abbas:

A blind man had a slave-mother who used to abuse the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) and disparage him. He forbade her but she did not stop. He rebuked her but she did not give up her habit. One night she began to slander the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) and abuse him. So he took a dagger, placed it on her belly, pressed it, and killed her. A child who came between her legs was smeared with the blood that was there. When the morning came, the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) was informed about it.

He assembled the people and said: I adjure by Allah the man who has done this action and I adjure him by my right to him that he should stand up. Jumping over the necks of the people and trembling the man stood up.

He sat before the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) and said: Apostle of Allah! I am her master; she used to abuse you and disparage you. I forbade her, but she did not stop, and I rebuked her, but she did not abandon her habit. I have two sons like pearls from her, and she was my companion. Last night she began to abuse and disparage you. So I took a dagger, put it on her belly and pressed it till I killed her.

Thereupon the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: Oh be witness, no retaliation is payable for her blood. 

This is horrifying news. Islam is a plague upon humanity.

Muslims don't have to try very hard to make me hate their culture and religion. I cannot even begin to summarize the rage I feel in light of this and it's violation of the basic right to free speech it infringes upon.Zeviander

Absolutely ridiculous it basically sums down to this- "Your views hurt my feelings, you deserve to die for that."

[QUOTE="Zeviander"]Muslims don't have to try very hard to make me hate their culture and religion. I cannot even begin to summarize the rage I feel in light of this and it's violation of the basic right to free speech it infringes upon.gameguy6700

Those fundamentalists happen to have views that are 100% Islamic, though. They aren't crazies who don't understand anything about Islam. 

[QUOTE="gameguy6700"][QUOTE="Zeviander"]Muslims don't have to try very hard to make me hate their culture and religion. I cannot even begin to summarize the rage I feel in light of this and it's violation of the basic right to free speech it infringes upon.ghoklebutter

Those fundamentalists happen to have views that are 100% Islamic, though. They aren't crazies who don't understand anything about Islam.

The world is failing together....

One small step for man, one giant-ass leap back for mankind.

For example, the Bible also encourages executing blasphemers.gameguy6700

Moot point is moot. Considering if you take the number of sects and their differing views into account.

One thing is for certain though. Theocracy is a bad thing.