This blog has mentioned the case of Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff, the Austrian lady who was being accused of hate speech in Austria because she dared to say uncomplimentary things about Mohammed and Islam (
here and
here). I apologize for missing the latest development: Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff
has been found guilty of all those terrible crimes and fined "480 Euros for the "denigration of religious teachings of a legally recognized religion in Austria." In a three-part seminar Mrs. Sabaditsch-Wolff had referred to Islam's prophet Mohammed's marriage to Aisha. According to generally-accepted Islamic textual tradition, Aisha was six at the time of the marriage, which was consummated when she was nine. Mrs. Sabaditsch-Wolff asked rhetorically "if this does not constitute pedophilia, what does?".
It seems that the court is not denying the facts of what she said, nor that Mohammed has been dead for some centuries, merely saying that the word paedophile must not be used about him.
Here is Mark Steyn's
take on the case and Nina Shea's
report on the sentence. Sadly, I don't seem to be able to find any British media reports. Do let me know if you have seen any mention at all.
It is well known that you can now say anything about Christianity in the 'West', but you are not allowed to say or write anything that might be taken as offensive to Islam.
ReplyDeleteThis is because Islam is such a warm welcoming and all embracing creed. The Islamic world is undergoing a transformation with more and more people in Egypt, Tunisia, The Yemen, Libya, Jordan,Syria and others crying out for democracy and a better life. On todays Thought for the Day the speaker has compared these events to the European enlightenment. Perhaps in the fulness of time there will be no need to persecute the Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolffs as we reach harmony and understanding.