Jail Time for Blasphemy Under Religious Constitution
October 21, 2008 by Administrator · Comments Off
Washington, D.C. –“The 20-year jail sentence for blasphemy handed down to Sayad Kambakhsh in Afghanistan this week is the kind of outrage to be expected under any constitution that enshrines Islam as the state religion and the Koran as the supreme law of the land,” said Thomas Bowden, an analyst at the Ayn Rand Center for Individual Rights.
A council of mullahs acting under court authority had originally decreed capital punishment for Kambakhsh, a 24-year-old journalism student charged with possessing anti-Islamic books, starting un-Islamic debates in class, and downloading and distributing Internet articles saying that Muhammad ignored women’s rights. That death sentence, which was endorsed by Afghanistan’s upper house of parliament, has now been overturned on appeal.
“In 2006, mobs of clerics were clamoring for the death of Abdul Rahman, an Afghan whose ‘crime’ was converting to Christianity,” Bowden said. “And now, Sayad Kambakhsh faces two decades in jail unless an international outcry embarrasses Afghanistan’s government into lifting the sentence.
“Criminal punishment of blasphemy is fundamentally unjust and outrageous, and ad hoc protests offer no long-term solution. If Islam’s stranglehold on Afghanistan’s government is to end, that nation must adopt an American-style constitution protecting individual rights, including freedom of speech and religion. The strict separation of church and state erects an institutional barrier to religious persecution, as American history shows.
“But a nation that exalts mystical dogma and tribal allegiances cannot be expected to think in such terms. ‘The guy should be hanged,’ said an 18-year-old student at the American University in Kabul, at the time of Kambakhsh’s death sentence. Added a Muslim cleric: ‘He should be punished so that others can learn from him.’ For such people, freedom is an intolerable obstacle to the overriding goal of enforcing Islam.
“When the Bush administration invaded Afghanistan, its stated policy was to promote ‘democracy.’ That policy has now achieved its exact aim. The Afghan government reflects the democratic will of the people. The people want to punish blasphemers, and their constitution allows them to do so lawfully.
“Bush’s policy was based on his delusional belief that Afghans are as freedom-loving as Americans. But what they truly value is religion. Sayad Kambakhsh is living–at least for now–proof that religion injected into government is hostile to freedom.”
Mr. Bowden is an analyst at the Ayn Rand Center for Individual Rights, focusing on legal issues. A former lawyer and law school instructor, who practiced for twenty years in Baltimore, Maryland, his op-eds have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Philadelphia Inquirer, Miami Herald, Los Angeles Daily News, and many other newspapers. Mr. Bowden has given dozens of radio interviews and has appeared on FOX News Channel’s Hannity & Colmes.
Wave Watch: How big will GOP loss be?
October 16, 2008 by Administrator · Leave a Comment
The conventional wisdom has the GOP surrendering between 20 and 25 House seats in November, as Democrats ride a wave a discontent with Republican rule and the lousy economy.
The anticipated Democratic surge, should it happen, will also get a boost from the unprecedented fundraising advantage enjoyed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee over the once-mighty National Republican Congressional Committee.
Bailout action moving at brisk pace
October 14, 2008 by Administrator · Leave a Comment
As Treasury plan accelerates, chances increase that Congress may soon vote on releasing rest of $700B.
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September 26, 2008 by Administrator · Leave a Comment
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First McCain-Obama debate remains doubtful (AP)
September 26, 2008 by Administrator · Leave a Comment
AP – The first presidential debate between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama remained in doubt Friday, the very day it was to be held, embroiled in the same partisan divisions that were holding up a Wall Street bailout plan.
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September 26, 2008 by Administrator · Leave a Comment
AP – Even for a party whose president suffers dismal approval ratings, whose legislative wing lost control of Congress and whose presidential nominee trails in the polls, it was a remarkably bad day for Republicans. Read more…
US wrangling and mutual collapse sparks new market fall (AFP)
September 26, 2008 by Administrator · Leave a Comment
AFP – Deadlocked talks on a bailout of the US financial system and the collapse of Washington Mutual bank sparked new falls on global markets Friday despite the injection of tens of billions of dollars by central banks.
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Prospects for nuclear deal uncertain in Congress (AP)
September 26, 2008 by Administrator · Leave a Comment
AP – A landmark agreement on civilian nuclear cooperation between India and the U.S. has been a high priority for President Bush and the Indian government, but time is running out as lawmakers wrap up this year’s session to campaign for the November elections.
Lawmakers to tackle bailout plan again Friday (Reuters)
September 26, 2008 by Administrator · Leave a Comment
Reuters – Congressional leaders will try again on Friday to save a $700 billion Wall Street rescue plan after talks broke down in acrimony against the backdrop of the nation’s biggest-ever bank failure.
Stage is set but will U.S. debate go on? (Reuters)
September 25, 2008 by Administrator · Leave a Comment
Reuters – The stage is set, but it was unclear on Friday if Republican John McCain would show up to duel Democrat Barack Obama in the first of three debates that could help decide a tight White House race.
