In yet another example that even personal posts on social media can be considered the same as published material in the media, Egyptian poet Fatima Naoot is in hot water over comments deemed offensive to Islam.
The 50-year-old writer faces trial on January 28 on charges that she insulted Islam by criticizing the slaughter of animals during the holy day of Eid al-Adha, the Muslim feast of sacrifice.
In one of the posts to her Facebook page in October, Naoot wished those celebrating the religious festival “Happy massacre.” Part of the celebration involves the slaughter of animals to commemorate Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his own son for God.
Among the other posts were: “Massacre committed by men over the past 10 centuries and followed by men each year with a smile.”
“Annual massacre observed because of a nightmare of one (prophet) about his son…”
“[It’s] a yearly massacre because a good man once had a nightmare about his good son, and although the nightmare has passed for the good man and his son, the [sheep] pay their lives as a price for that holy nightmare”
Although she deleted the writings after they began stirring up controversy, she later admitted to authorities that she initially posted them.
Egypt’s constitution outlaws insults against Islam, Christianity and Judaism, and Naoot has been charged with insulting Islam and “making fun of the right to sacrifice.”
After learning that she’d be charged and tried for insulting Islam, Naoot stood by her actions. “It is the price paid by those who carry torches of enlightenment at every age.”
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