European Court of Human Rights: Prophet Muhammad not a pedophile

[Tender Branson]

The European Court of Human Rights says an Austrian woman's conviction for calling the prophet of Islam a pedophile didn't breach her freedom of speech.

The Strasbourg-based ECHR ruled Thursday that Austrian courts had "carefully balanced her right to freedom of expression with the right of others to have their religious feelings protected."

The woman in her late 40s, identified only as E.S., claimed during two public seminars in 2009 that the Prophet Muhammad's marriage to a 6-year old girl was akin to "pedophilia."

A Vienna court convicted her in 2011 of disparaging religious doctrines, ordering her to pay a 480-euro ($547) fine, plus costs. The ruling was later upheld by an Austrian appeals court.

The ECHR said the Austrian court's decision "served the legitimate aim of preserving religious peace."

https://www.kansas.com/news/nation-world/article220598335.html

[Tender Branson]

Would be interesting to know what really happened 1400 years ago and if he was really married to a 6-year old girl and if that girl really wanted to marry him voluntarily ...

The ruling might be correct to "preserve religious peace" (because Muslims would go nuts if the court ruled otherwise), but the doubt remains.

[PSOL]

Would be interesting to know what really happened 1400 years ago and if he was really married to a 6-year old girl and if that girl really wanted to marry him voluntarily ...

The ruling might be correct to "preserve religious peace" (because Muslims would go nuts if the court ruled otherwise), but the doubt remains.

There actually are issues with it being in a Hadith, along with differing timelines by scholars going by fragmented pieces. Did they use any texts or other analysis in their verdict.

[Tender Branson]

Would be interesting to know what really happened 1400 years ago and if he was really married to a 6-year old girl and if that girl really wanted to marry him voluntarily ...

The ruling might be correct to "preserve religious peace" (because Muslims would go nuts if the court ruled otherwise), but the doubt remains.

There actually are issues with it being in a Hadith, along with differing timelines by scholars going by fragmented pieces. Did they use any texts or other analysis in their verdict.

http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng-press?i=003-6234980-8105265

[PSOL]

Would be interesting to know what really happened 1400 years ago and if he was really married to a 6-year old girl and if that girl really wanted to marry him voluntarily ...

The ruling might be correct to "preserve religious peace" (because Muslims would go nuts if the court ruled otherwise), but the doubt remains.

There actually are issues with it being in a Hadith, along with differing timelines by scholars going by fragmented pieces. Did they use any texts or other analysis in their verdict.

http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng-press?i=003-6234980-8105265

I may need the statements in court. Seems like this could be appealed for a redo though. How would one go about this process.

[dead0man]

It's amazing how much Europe sucks sometimes.

[Green Line]

So glad I live in a free country!

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Elon Musk says he would have called him a pedophile for not wanting to play with his kid-sized submarine.

[Cashew]

So glad I live in a free country!

[Pandaguineapig]

The European legal system is a joke part 487239

[Tender Branson]

The European legal system is a joke part 487239

It's not necessarily the legal system. It's certain judges or people, who are already intimidated by the increasing presence of extremist Islam that has spread throughout Europe over the past 2 decades and who threatens our lifestyle and - if the names of the judges are published - even themselves.

We have long enough tolerated these extremist Muslim creatures to immigrate into our countries, so that they can force their "way of life" on us. This needs to end now. And it would be better if the judges would also follow this example. It's the extremist Muslim creatures and Nazis who have to follow our way of life or be combated or deported, not the other way around.

Whenever I hear the words "sentenced because of blasphemy" or "to protect religious peace", I could vomit, because it shows that our societies are moving backwards again to times we do not want to see anymore (extremist Islam => middle ages). Religious extremism is a disease that needs to be vigorously combated.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Terrible decision. Aside of the obvious free speech issue, why should religious feelings enjoy special protection over other systems of beliefs?

Literally the only circumstance under which a "speech" should be prosecuted is a direct incitement to violence. This is hardly a case here.

[RFayette]

So glad I live in a free country!

[TDAS04]

Stupid decision.  People should have the right to insult any religious sensibilities. 

I could invent my own religion, and say I worship a watermelon, and claim that anyone who insults that watermelon is religiously persecuting me.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Stupid decision.  People should have the right to insult any religious sensibilities. 

I could invent my own religion, and say I worship a watermelon, and claim that anyone who insults that watermelon is religiously persecuting me.

That's what L. Ron Hubbard did, except he made tons of money of this.

[OSR stands with Israel]

And they wonder why people dislike the EU

[PSOL]

So can anyone give a brief rundown of the ECHR, is it possible to appeal a verdict?

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

And they wonder why people dislike the EU

Many European countries had such laws before the EU was even a thing.

Also, the ECHR is not a EU institution.

[The Mikado]

Funny how people like to solely portray Aisha as a victim rather than emphasizing her as an extremely powerful woman of her era, right down to being a woman general personally leading an army into battle in the First Fitna against the forces of Ali (her son-in-law).  I very much doubt that Aisha's army at the Battle of the Camel regarded her as a pitiful victim, especially because her claim to power was her status as the Prophet's widow.

[Lord Halifax]

Funny how people like to solely portray Aisha as a victim rather than emphasizing her as an extremely powerful woman of her era, right down to being a woman general personally leading an army into battle in the First Fitna against the forces of Ali (her son-in-law).  I very much doubt that Aisha's army at the Battle of the Camel regarded her as a pitiful victim, especially because her claim to power was her status as the Prophet's widow.

It's not a matter of whether she was a victim, but whether Muhammed had sex with underage girls. Aisha's status later in life has nothing to do with that. The issue isn't about her, but about him.

[Tender Branson]

Funny how people like to solely portray Aisha as a victim rather than emphasizing her as an extremely powerful woman of her era, right down to being a woman general personally leading an army into battle in the First Fitna against the forces of Ali (her son-in-law).  I very much doubt that Aisha's army at the Battle of the Camel regarded her as a pitiful victim, especially because her claim to power was her status as the Prophet's widow.

So, you try to divert from the issue of possible pedophelia by Mohammed with her - the 6-year old child - to saying she became a chauvinist later on ? That doesn't improve your portrayal of Mohammed or Islam or her (but I agree that it's not about her, because she's the victim and he's the likely perpetrator).

Also, it shows that Islam (like Catholicism) has a deep problem with (possible) and actual pedophiles and a backwards, violent past (and present). Religion is dangerous and it would be better if people got rid of it.

[PSOL]

So can anyone give a brief rundown of the ECHR, is it possible to appeal a verdict?

[Esteemed Jimmy]

So glad I live in a free country!

[parochial boy]

So glad I live in a democracy though

[The Mikado]

Funny how people like to solely portray Aisha as a victim rather than emphasizing her as an extremely powerful woman of her era, right down to being a woman general personally leading an army into battle in the First Fitna against the forces of Ali (her son-in-law).  I very much doubt that Aisha's army at the Battle of the Camel regarded her as a pitiful victim, especially because her claim to power was her status as the Prophet's widow.

So, you try to divert from the issue of possible pedophelia by Mohammed with her - the 6-year old child - to saying she became a chauvinist later on ? That doesn't improve your portrayal of Mohammed or Islam or her (but I agree that it's not about her, because she's the victim and he's the likely perpetrator).

Also, it shows that Islam (like Catholicism) has a deep problem with (possible) and actual pedophiles and a backwards, violent past (and present). Religion is dangerous and it would be better if people got rid of it.

I'm not "diverting" from the issue. I'm pointing out that Aisha is a figure of major historical importance and a powerful general and political leader in her own right, but the story of Aisha as one of the major political leaders of early Islam and massively involved in the struggles of the early caliphate and one of the main conduits of the legacy of the Prophet get conveniently ignored by people with a vested interest in pushing the idea that Islam is inherently sexist and denies women power and authority in society. Aisha's name wasn't even mentioned in this thread prior to my post, let alone her career, so you end up with this skewed story that erases the life and career of a woman who might well have been the most politically powerful woman alive on Earth during her heyday to a nameless footnote in Muhammad's career, as Muhammad's child bride.