NOVANEWS
Washington DC – A Saudi writer is facing charges of apostasy and a death sentence after he characterized an alleged hadith of the Prophet Mohamed as barbaric.
Writer and columnist Yahia AlAmeer has been asked to report to the Jeddah court in June 7th to face the charge of apostasy by insulting the Prophet Mohamed, a charge that traditionally carries the death penalty.
The charges stems from an interview AlAmeer had with American television station AlHurra five years ago in which he called a purported hadith of the Prophet Mohamed characterizing women as a source of harm to men, barbaric. The Hadith stated “After me I have not left any affliction more harmful to men than women,” is reported in the two leading sources of hadith in Sunni Islam Bokhari and Muslim and are considered undoubtedly authentic by most Sunni Muslims especially those in Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Saudi government Sheikh Abdulaziz Bin Abdullatif issued a fatwa calling for the killing of AlAmeer. “He should be killed even if he repented,” said Abdullatif on his website.
The charge of apostasy by insulting the Prophet was used to sentence Hadi AlMutif, 36, to death in 1994. Al-Mutif remains in prison since then on death row. His family’s has appealed to King Abdulla for a pardon several times, a request he rejected.
Kingdom of Sorcery and Apostasy
The Saudi absolute monarchy leads the world in trying apostasy and sorcery cases, most of them occurring under King Abdulla who has been applauded by western leaders and governments as a reformer, especially in the United States. Late King Fahd signed the death warrant of Sadiq Mallah, 23, in 1993 just few weeks after it was issued by a Saudi court.
Cases under King Abdullah included the following:
Liberal journalist and blogger Rebah Algwaie was arrested in the northern city of Hail on apostasy charges in April 3rd, 2006 after receiving death threats from unknown individuals who destroyed his car and left a message warning him to return to Islam or face the consequences. He was sentenced to death by the Wahhabi court after only three weeks in jail but released later due to direct interference by King Abdullah after international organizations such as the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, and Paris Based Reporters Without Borders issued statements requesting his release. He was not allowed a lawyer or any legal assistant.
In November 2005 Mohammad Al-Harbi, a high school chemistry teacher, was sentenced to three years in jail and 750 lashes – 50 lashes per week for 15 weeks – after his 12th-grade students and teachers from the same school accused him of “mocking religion”, “praising unbelievers” and preventing students from performing ablutions as well as practicing witchcraft.
Another Saudi teacher, Mohammad Al-Suhaimi, received a sentence of three years in prison and 700 lashes for allegedly encouraging students to indulge in homosexual activities and adultery. Al-Suhaimi’s students complained to the court after told them that love was “a noble act.” When asked by a student if love was not all about marriage, he replied that a typical Saudi marriage is more about amiability and compassion.
Dr. Hamza Al-Maziani was sentenced to four months in jail and 275 lashes after his colleague claimed he described Islamic textbooks used at King Saud University as “radical.” The sentences of both men were subsequently overturned by the Crown Prince and now King Abdullah due to international pressure.
Other cases including Yemeni Hail AlMaseri whose whereabouts are currently unknown since his death sentence in 2002. Two Turkish citizens who were sentenced to death in 2007 for apostasy and insulting the Prophet but they were released after intervention by the Turkish president.