When you become so paranoid that you begin charging people with crimes for a humorous statement against a religion, you've gone over the edge. The German government is really reaching to find something to charge a man who printed the words Koran on toilet paper and mailed it out to TV stations. Finally they settled on disturbing the peace. He is scheduled to go on trial Feb 23.
Arizona Republic
A German businessman who printed the name of the Koran on toilet paper and offered the rolls for sale to mosques and media will face trial for disturbing the peace.
...
The businessman last summer printed sheets of toilet paper with the sentence "Koran, the Holy Qur'aen" and sent them to about 15 mosques, television stations and magazines.
In an accompanying letter, authorities say, he asserted that Islam's holy book is a "cookbook for terrorists" that calls for acts of violence.
He proposed that a "memorial to all victims of Islamic terror" be set up, financed by sales of the toilet paper - an offer that prosecutors say he also posted on the Internet.
The businessman's offer led to criminal complaints and telephone death threats against him.
Prosecutors argue that the man's actions overstepped the legally guaranteed freedom to criticize other religions. They say he has cited his right to freedom of opinion and artistic expression, and said his aim was to provoke rather than actually sell the toilet paper.
Ridiculous. So this man has no right to stand up and say he feels that their religion is bad? You can probably find this item at every Spencer's Gifts here in America.
Is this man really taking the heat for this idea? This is rediculous, where is the freedom of speech, and consideering his actions, freedom of the press?
Raymond B
www.voteswagon.com
Posted by: Raymond B on February 15, 2006 09:34 PM