Eid al-Adha is a Muslim holiday honoring, for some reason, how Abraham was willing to kill his son Isaac because God told him to. The Feast of the Sacrifice, as it’s known, literally involves the slaughter of animals:
Egyptian poet Fatima Naoot finds that horrific and said as much on Facebook:
“Millions of innocent creatures will be driven to the most horrible massacre committed by humans for ten-and-a-half centuries,” she said. “A massacre which is repeated every year because of the nightmare of a righteous man about his good son.”
She’s right, of course. It’s a disturbing ritual that honors a terrifying story.
But for that criticism, she could face up to three years in prison:
The poet — whose trial began on Wednesday — has been charged with contempt of Islam, spreading sectarian strife and disturbing public peace, judicial sources and Naoot said.
She denies the charges. If convicted she could face jail terms ranging from six months to three years, the sources said.
This is the environment critics of religion and religious beliefs now face in a country overrun by faith-based law. Yet government officials won’t even admit it:
The government denies any accusations of hindering freedom of speech or belief. It says it is committed to democracy and does not interfere in judicial matters.
Egypt’s constitution states that “freedom of belief is absolute”.
Sure it is… unless you question the Koran, in which case, you’re going to be punished.
(Image via ChameleonsEye / Shutterstock.com)