GagWatch

The BBC (via) reports that 24-year-old Abdul Muhid has gone on trial at the Old Baily over his part in last year’s demonstration over the Muhammed Cartoons Controversy.

According to David Perry QC, prosecuting: “The drawings of the Prophet had not appeared in any UK newspaper. This was supposed to be a demonstration against the publication of the drawings in the newspapers abroad. This behaviour shows what the demonstration was really about. It was an exhortation, an encouragement to terrorism.”

Muhid was allegedly one of the protest organisers and, according to the prosecution, urged people to commit “terrorist killing” and led the crowd chanting “bomb, bomb the UK.”

Also, the Clareification fallout continues. Cambridge Dons are unsure what to do about the guest editor of the magazine that reprinted one of the Muhammed cartoons. Some are taking the view that he should be expelled while others - such as philosophy lecturer Arif Ahmed - are taking a much more admirable stance.

Writing to The Cambridge Student, Ahmed said:

Dear Madam

The fact that mocking somebody’s beliefs is liable to cause him offence is no reason to refrain from it if the beliefs in questions are nothing but a tissue of superstition and prejudice. But that is exactly what Islam is. I do not know the guest editor of Clareification. But I hope that he and other Cambridge students are aware that some senior members of this University (including me) regard the satirizing of religion as commendable, indeed in the present atmosphere I think it is practically obligatory. He has done nothing wrong, and I am ashamed of those of my colleagues who have chosen to condemn his actions.

Best wishes,
Arif Ahmed
(Fellow of Girton and Lecturer in Philosophy)

Quite.

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