Editor, publisher arrested in India for Hari article
The editor and publisher of The Statesman, and English language daily in India, have been arrested and released on bail for “hurting the religious feelings” of Muslims.
The crime of Ravindra Kumar and Anand Sinha was to reprint an article by Johann Hari in the Independent entitled “Why should I respect these oppressive religions?”.
The passage in question:
I don’t respect the idea that we should follow a ‘Prophet’ who at the age of 53 had sex with a nine-year old girl, and ordered the murder of whole villages of Jews because they wouldn’t follow him.
Angry Muslims have been demonstrating outside The Statesman’s offices since this was published.
Although a spokesman claimed that the article “outraged their religious feelings”, he did not explain why anyone should respect the idea that we should follow a ‘Prophet’ who at the age of 53 had sex with a nine-year old girl, and ordered the murder of whole villages of Jews because they wouldn’t follow him.
Any ideas?
Not a really smart move in such a backward country, though… We’d probably stir up a shit storm if we ran that as a front-page in the Sun/Mail/etc. here and we’re quite forward thinking (in comparison).
Look what’s happening to poor Geert – who may (or may not be) a complete arse; but he’s entitled to an opinion and to have it heard.