VERSIONS: روسيا اليوم NOTICIAS FREEVIDEO ИНОТВ RTД FIND US ON: YouTube Twitter
breakingnews
Go to main page   News   Does “Daughters of Allah” insult Islam?  
MORE ON THE STORY
19.05.2009, 10:40 6 comments

Love or religion? Couple in Syria faces difficult choice

A couple in Syria is finding it hard to have their marriage legally recognized. He's Syrian, she's Armenian, but because of religious differences their union is not recognized by the law.

07.05.2009, 20:14 2 comments

Religion to tackle drunk driving in Chechnya

The names of drunk drivers will now be voiced during Friday prayers, and then written on special banners put near the mosques of the Chechen republic, Russia’s Ria Novosti reports.

11.03.2009, 16:19

Headscarf ban lifted after protests

Kyrgyz Education Ministry has lifted the ban on traditional Islamic headscarves in schools after numerous protests. The ban was meant as a preventive measure against radical movements.

25.02.2009, 19:47

Muslims may boycott Dutch goods

Russian Muslims should boycott all Dutch-made goods, including the world-famous tulips and roses grown in the Netherlands, representatives of the Muslim spiritual authority of Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod Region said.

AFP Photo / Henghameh Fahimi 19.11.2008, 13:35

Five million websites blocked from Iranian view

Iranian authorities have blocked access to more than five million websites from the country’s population. The Internet “inflicts social, political, economic and moral damage, which is worrying”, a judiciary official commented on the decision,

08.09.2008, 05:49

Steamy TV soap has Arab world in a lather

A Turkish TV series has caused uproar across the Arab world with a portrayal of modern life which has clashed with traditional Islamic values and culture. But while controversial, it’s also proved undeniably popular, especially in Palestine.

Students shout holding a banner during a demonstration against the government's pensions reform outside the Senate on October 26, 2010 in Paris (AFP Photo / Fred Dufour) 26.10.2010, 22:21 6 comments

French strikes costing country $500 million a day

Students across France are staging fresh protests against an unpopular overhaul of the pension system, following the French Senate’s approval of a controversial pension reform bill.

27.06.2009, 22:59 7 comments

First signs of Internet censorship in Europe?

A fierce debate is raging in Germany after the Bundestag passed a bill imposing censorship of certain pornographic websites.

Denmark, Copenhagen: A file photo taken 10 February 2006 shows Imam Ahmed Abdel Rahman Abu Laban preaching in a mosque in Copenhagen. Denmark's highest profile Islamic cleric, Palestinian Abu Laban, accused of fuelling a row over Danish cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, died 01 February 2007 from cancer, the group he led announced. (AFP Photo / Keld Navntoft / Scanpix) 23.10.2009, 10:20 6 comments

Danish Muslims strive to build first mosque in the country

In Denmark, there are fears that Islamic fundamentalism could spread, with plans for an Iranian-funded Mosque. It would be the first purpose-built place of worship for the country's quarter of a million Muslims.

A Bosnian Muslim woman, survivor of Srebrenica atrocities in 1995, Sehida Abdurahmanovic, arrives at Potocari memorial cemetery, near Srebrenica (AFP Photo / Elvis Barukcic) 10.06.2010, 14:59 2 comments

Seven Bosnian Serbs convicted over Srebrenica massacre

Two Bosnian Serbs have been jailed for life by a UN court over the Srebrenica massacre in 1995. Five other officers were sentenced to between 5 and 35 years.

Does “Daughters of Allah” insult Islam?

Published: 20 May, 2009, 10:38
Edited: 06 October, 2010, 18:01

(14.7Mb) embed video

TAGS: Religion, Protest, Europe, Law


A controversial Turkish writer who faced prosecution 30 years ago for “morally offending the public” is wanted back in the courtroom. Nedim Gursel is accused of insulting Islam with a new book “The Daughters of Allah.”

Gursel’s latest novel describes the advent of Islam in the sixth century. The writer says it’s just a work of fiction and he didn’t mean to offend anyone.

“I don’t really understand this trial, as it is about a novel. The committee of Religious Affairs submitted a report accusing me of blasphemy, but they don’t have the expertise to judge a literary novel,” he said.

If found guilty, the novelist could face up to 1.5 years behind bars.

Ali Emre Bukagili, the civil engineer responsible for filing the lawsuit against the writer, says the author has deeply and intentionally offended Muslims.

“A true believer loves the Prophet more than him or herself. If it was me who was insulted, I wouldn’t be so much offended, but this is beyond a personal insult,” he said.

He says there are more than 60 items in the book which are insulting. Among them are claims the Prophet was an ignorant child, and that as a rich man, he was still not a decent man.

But the writer insists it’s not a historical or religious textbook, and many phrases are taken out of context.

“There are metaphors and images such as these. There is an expression that everyone uses in Turkey: “Karpe fedex”, which means “F…g Fate." It is not an insult, it is just a popular expression that everybody uses, but it has nothing to do with fate,” Nedim Gursel said.

Emre Bukagili argues that the book poses a danger to public security and could spark protests similar to those that happened after the cartoons on the Prophet Mohammed were published in Denmark.

However, among the people RT spoke to, there is more indifference than anger. In fact, the majority have not even read the book.

“I haven’t [read it] and I don’t think it can spark any controversy or a wave of protests in Turkey,” an Istanbul citizen said.

“Freedom is an essential principle, but it cannot be limitless. However, I can’t say much about it because I haven’t read the book,” another one added.

Nedim Gursel’s lawyer, Sehnaz Yuzer, says she is sure the case will be dropped:

“The basic argument that we put forward is that no one can hold a monopoly on the interpretation of religion.”

25 years ago the writer had to leave his country for political reasons and now lives in France, but says he still hopes for justice in his homeland.

+2 (4 votes)
 
Back to top
next MORE NEWS
Alex Jones 20.05.2009, 04:21 9 comments

Alex Jones: the evil intent of the Bilderberg Club

The Bilderberg Club, which has been surrounded in secrecy for the last 50 years, has concluded its annual session in Greece.

20.05.2009, 11:20

Terrorists hunted on Ingush-Chechen border

Police in Russia's Northern Caucasus republic of Ingushetia say they are hunting a group of up to 60 suspected militants, thought to be connected to recent attacks in the region.

Johnny Zero October 06, 2010, 03:02
0

Freedom of speech and expression is a sacred right and much blood and treasure has been spent by Citizens in the Western democracies to secure that right over the past 100 years. We cannot be forced back to penal consequences by those who wish to use the law to fine or imprison people for what they think or write, so long as they clearly do not incite violence which threatens any Soverwign State. This violent battle of harsh words from the so called "Christian Right Wing" across to "Islamic Fundamentalists" must be seen for what it is - Noisy Babble between people who simply cannot and do not wish to hear one another. Lets move to silence and the mood in which the Red Indian used to consider the Sacred - "We never argue about God" they said, we are part of Nature and all Nature is Sacred. Our Truth comes to us from the Old Ones through the Visions and dreams of our Elders. The is only one Universe, One World, One Reality, One God, One Divine, One Spirit,( among many spirits) and One Empty Space, which we all equally share. The law and our courts are no place for religious or spiritual debate. If you do not like what someone says, then ignore it.

Louis June 14, 2010, 02:10
0

Nobody should ever be forced to respect any beliefs they don't agree with.

MASOOD RANA October 22, 2009, 04:21
0

We should learn to respect everyone and their religion and values. Anyone who try insulting or degrading or disrespecting any religion or anyone, should think again if he/she really have some moral values that can lead to say that they are really human beings. Most of us have a religion by birth and we didn't acquire it with our own choice and by fair evaluation of right or wrong. But at least anyone disrespecting anyone's religion in any form is for sure not even close to knowing any truth for any religion.