[View the story "Saudi journalist faces trial over tweets" on Storify ]Saudi journalist faces trial over tweets Will international pressure change Hamzah Kashgari’s fate? Storified by The Stream · Wed, Feb 22 2012 12:16:28
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The online frenzy around the Hamza Kashgari case heightened when Malaysian authorities deported the New Zealand-bound journalist back to Saudi Arabia. Kashgari supporters, including Human Rights Watch have criticised Malaysian authorities for deporting Kashgari despite an international court junction and the absence of a Saudi-Malaysian extradition treaty.
Below, Malaysian news coverage of Kashgari's case:
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With the support of conservative Saudi clerics, a prosecutor in Riyadh plans to file charges against Kashgari as well as those who supported Kashgari online. Kashgari's controversial tweets from his former @Hmzmz account were excerpts of a longer poem he wrote last year, which can be found
here in Arabic. The poem, "Out of Time: A dialogue with the Prophet", is translated in full below:
"No matter how far I stray from you, I come back to you. And you'll stand in front me on your day of birth, and offer to shake my hand with your blessed right hand, as peers..
And you'll accept that I won't kiss your hand, or bow to you, but offer my hand to shake yours, and you smile. And I smile..
And I tell you "I strayed away", and you tell me "But you still love me, more than any other"..
You'll tell me that I understood you rightfully, and I'll tell you that I made sure of that for my sake before it was for yours..
Someone will yell from behind me: "He's not one of your followers!". And you'll gently smile and say: "When was I ever seeking followers?"
And I'll rush and say: "I was never a follower", and you'll pat on my shoulder and say: "I understand that.. I understand that.."
They'll wonder in suspicion about our long stand together, and our longer chats together, and they'll bad word me specifically.. Those envious..
But you'll see it clear on their faces, as if by true divine revelation, and you'll preach them: "Oh those of you who vocalise belief, yet never enact it, know that those who do good deeds to humanity are our kins, and those who loved people and loved kindness are loved back by us.."
And some of their faces will turn, and darken in anger or confusion, and you'll whisper to me: "that's why I loved you more than any one other.."
And I'll try to preach them like you do, but you'll stop me out of pity and say: "That won't do any good, Hamza, no use of it. They won't accept you like this.. Neither the Christians nor the Jews will take you as their own, either, until you believe in what they believe.."
And I reply "Not even the Muslims?"
To which you'll answer "not even the Muslims.."
I'll shake your hands when the sun sets on your day of birth. And you'll grip harder on my hand as you say: "Be in your people as I was in mine.."
I won't promise you that, but i promise you'll be a symbol and a role model always.. always.. and the sun will set.. and you'll wave your hands at me from a far, as you disappear into the horizon.."
Prosecutors are now investigating Kashgari for "disrespecting God" and "insulting the Prophet" for which, the punishment can be death.
Saudi Sheikh weeping as he demands that Saudi Columnist Hamza Kashgari gets executedthenonawaitedmahdi
Other religious leaders have differing perspectives on the case. In Cairo, Sheikh Ali Gomaa, the Grand Mufti of Egypt explained his position against Kashgari's execution stating, "We don't kill our sons, we talk to them." He also raises several questions:
"We need to look at three points before we make any judgments," he said. "Are we sure he really said what everyone is repeating? Secondly, we need to categorise the actual statements he made. Are they a form of misconduct, or an expression of doubt, or an actual insult?"
In a 2009 video, Saudi Cleric Muhammad Al-Munajid stresses the importance of limited freedom of thought within Islam.
Saudi Cleric Admits No Freedom under Islam1001phoenix
Before his arrest, Kashgari defended his statements by saying in an interview with The Daily Beast:
“I view my actions as part of a process toward freedom. I was demanding my right to practice the most basic human rights — freedom of expression and thought — so nothing was done in vain."
The only known legal precedent for the Kashgari "blasphemy" controversy is the case of Hadi Al Mutif. Al Mutif, a Saudi national, was charged with apostasy in 1993 for "jokingly insulting" the Prophet Mohammed. He remained in prison until being pardoned earlier this year. Al Mutif’s lawyer is now prepared to defend Kashgari in court.
Below, a 2010 photo from a demonstration in Washington, D.C. calling for Al Mutif's release.
Realcourage
Free HamzaAJstream
Hamza Execution groupAJstream
A global
petition to prevent Kashgari's prosecution has also been circulated.
Petition HamzahAJstream
Netizens continued to tweet in disbelief about Hamza Kashgari's arrest and criticism of the Saudi government. Our coverage of earlier Twitter exchanges can be found
here .
I almost crack a rib laughing out loud everytime I hear #Saudi reffer to itself as 'the kingdom of humanity'. #HamzaKashgari #FreeHamzaFatema Abuidrees
Saudi has become a 5-star retirement home for war criminals but Saudi Youth have to fear for their life when tweeting. #FreeHamzaRuwayda Mustafah
It takes diversity of thought to have a healthy society, Saudi is proving to have a most unhealthy society #freeHamzaBint Talal
Freedom of speech is greater than any religion. #freeHamza #Hamzajensbest
Just putting this out there, neither I or millions of other Muslims agree to what Saudi decides to do with #HamzaKashgari #freehamzaتباً لكم ياطواغيت
“Let there be no compulsion in faith," Quran 2:256.But where does Quran say "write X about Prophet,die?" Nowhere. #FreeHamza #HamzaKashghariMohja Kahf
@AhlulbaytTV The Tweets were gentle and poetic. No compulsion in religion - unless you are born in #Saudi? What wicked hypocrisy #FreeHamzaMia
One moment you're tweeting, next moment you're in hell.#FreeHamzaManaf مناف
@M3ath_Kashgari tweeted: I do not know when people accept the idea of repentance brother Hamza, Allah loves those who repent, why do you dislike? Hamza was wrong and I do not deny his mistake, but I encourage him and proud of him for his repentance.
لا ادري متى يتقبل الناس فكرة توبة اخي حمزة, الله يحب التوابين, فلماذا تكرهونه ؟؟حمزة اخطأ وانا لا انكر خطأه ولكني اشجعه وافتخر به لتوبته,,,M3ath Kashgari
People across the world showed solidarity by popularising the hashtag #freehamza and sharing campaign materials.
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