The lesson is: freedom of speech does not exist in Islam. A Coptic Christian teacher, Bishoy Kamel will be spending the next six years in an Egyptian prison, and may face danger for the rest of his life for allegedly posting insults against the Prophet Mohammed on his Facebook page.
Kamel says his Facebook account was hacked and that someone else posted the inflammatory comments. Included in those comments were insults against President Mohamed Morsi, and Mohamed Safwat, the man who accused him.
He was sentenced to three years for insulting the Prophet, two for the president, and one for his accuser.
After he was sentenced and led from court, Muslim protesters tried to attack him, pelting his police car with rocks as he was carried away to jail.
There are two facts that become immediately apparent. The first is that freedom of speech does not exist in Islamic societies where one can face punishment and persecution for verbal or written criticisms.
The second fact is that Islam, at last of the variety that is practiced by violent protestors around the world, cannot in any way be labeled a "religion of peace."
Other religions are typically criticized and satirized in free society. Those acts of free speech are considered offensive to their faithful, but it is only Muslims who react so violently to criticisms of their prophet.
To illustrate this point, this week a satirical American news publication (we will not mention its name) published an incredibly offensive and pornographic image depicting religious figures including Jesus, Moses, Ganesha, and the Buddha and made the editorial point that nobody was killed over the depiction. Likely sickened-yes, but harmed, no.
Militant Islam is more prevalent than many realize. The recent enlistment of an 8-year-old child in the cause of "jihad" in Australia, provides evidence of this.
Islamic leaders around the world must make a decision. This decision is must be made by the leaders of every sect and community within Islam. Either they condemn the violence and actively work towards protecting all, even those who would criticize them, or they face the world's judgment as they themselves nullify any claim to being a peaceful religion.
This includes those who sit silently, as their brothers and cousins throw stones at imprisoned bloggers.
How interesting to note that Islam is the only mainstream religion on the planet still spreading by militant means.
