Saudis to sue Twitter user who called poet's death sentence 'ISIS-like'

[Jesus Malverde]

Source: Reuters

Saudi Arabia's justice ministry plans to sue a Twitter user who compared the death sentence handed down on Friday to a Palestinian poet to the punishments meted out by Islamic State, a major government-aligned newspaper reported on Wednesday.

"The justice ministry will sue the person who described ... the sentencing of a man to death for apostasy as being `ISIS-like'," the newspaper Al-Riyadh quoted a source in the justice ministry as saying.

The source did not identify the Twitter user or the possible penalty.

On Friday, a Saudi Arabian court sentenced Palestinian poet Ashraf Fayadh to death for apostasy - abandoning his Muslim faith - according to trial documents seen by Human Rights Watch.


Read more: https://ca.news.yahoo.com/saudis-sue-twitter-user-called-poets-death-sentence-185552729.html

[daleo]

1. With allies like them...

[msongs]

9. once part of a criminal cult it is difficult to escape. nt

[Duckhunter935]

2. The truth hurts

It is indeed that.

[LiberalLovinLug]

65. Here is an exerpt that was published in 2008 and later banned from distribution in Saudi Arabia

your mute blood will not speak up
as long as you pride yourself in death
as long as you keep announcing -secretly- that you have put your soul
at the hands of those who do not know much..

losing your soul will cost time,
much longer than what it takes to calm
your eyes that have cried tears of oil

...........

More here:
http://monakareem.blogspot.ca/2015/11/ashraf-fayadhs-disputed-poems-in.html?spref=tw

[MADem]

3. The Internet --or TEH INTERNETS -- ought to retweet the shit out of that tweet and

give KSA a few words, too! I'd call it Da'esh - like, myself!

[katsy]

5. Yes ^^^^ this!

It's true. They are no different except for color of their garb. The death sentence is exactly what da'esh would do to apostates.

Barbarians.

[MgtPA]

16. Reddit is already on the case.

https://www.reddit.com/r/worldnews/comments/3ua12m/saudi_arabia_to_sue_twitter_user_who_called_poets/cxd7w8o

[MADem]

18. Good! nt

[wildbilln864]

54. yes very good! Fuck those barbarians! That is all.

[Moostache]

59. Allow me to repost the kick off post with my personal endorsement and authorization as well:

Quote:

That's a good idea, so let me go ahead and kick things off by stating LOUDLY and clearly:
I think that Saudi Arabia's execution of the poet Ashraf Fayadh is HIGHLY reminiscent, if not IDENTICAL to the psychotic mentality that drives the terrorist group known as ISIS.

I have NOTHING but contempt and utter disdain for the Saudi Government and the Saudi Royal family for this act.
If the Saudi Government and royal family is offended by this comment, my response is simply to raise my middle finger to your face (and also throw my shoes at you, since that also seems offensive in your culture).

Just in case I was not clear enough: Saudi Government and Saudi Royal family: you TOTALLY SUCK, and are the SAME as ISIS when you commit acts like this, such as executing poets like Ashraf Fayadh.

If you would like to file a formal law suit against me, I WELCOME it. Just PM and I'll give you my contact information. I also fully authorize the admins at Reddit to release my IP address to the Saudi Government upon request.

I fully welcome the challenge of a law suit, and the further media attention I will make sure it brings to your insanity and psychotic ways, and can't wait to see you in court.

I could not agree more. In fact, I will go further still:

THERE IS NO GOD, NOT ONE, NOT ANY, AND MOHAMMED WAS NOT A PROPHET.
Your basis for "law" is primitive, barbaric and has no place in 21st century industrialized and civil society.
Your royal family are criminals and should be brought to the Hague for trial on human rights abuse.
Your abuse of the population of Saudi Arabia and the world is the legacy of hate and greed that you pretend to abhor in that book of fables you tell people is so important and blah, blah, blah.

Got a problem with that? Think your fairy tale can actually harm me (as opposed to your fanatic, brain-washed zealots committing murder)? Then start praying for my demise. Implore allah/yahweh/jehovah or whatever to strike me down. Do it with all the righteous fury you can muster and I guarantee you two things.

1) You will have wasted whatever time and energy you use to that aim
2) I will still be here in the morning, living free, disdaining your entire world view and thinking about ANYTHING but your narrow, hateful and sadistic ideas on damn near everything.

[Aria36]

62. Well done! nt

[Throd]

4. How is it Not like Daesh?

[killbotfactory]

6. They're not going to film it with multiple angles and in slo-mo for use in a propaganda video...

that's about it.

[cer7711]

7. So . . . they kill poets now.

There is nothing more to say.

[mackdaddy]

8. No they just do the Beheadings in a public square.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/10/saudi-beheadings-execution-method-being-rethought_n_2848316.html

[chapdrum]

10. The oddsmakers will likely favor

the Saudis.

[WDIM]

11. And we supply these people weapons.

Brutal backwards ignorant people that use violence amd murder in the name of religions should be belittled amd shunned. But the elite are warm and cozy with these disgusting poor excuse for human beings. they have no humanity and they are just like the daesh.

[Jack Rabbit]

13. The death sentence of Ashraf Fayadh imposed by a Saudi court is ISIS-like

The very act of arresting him on charges of abandoning Islam is a human rights violation on its face.

So, sue me, tyrants.

[elmac]

14. We need to cut ties with these evil religious nuts

want nothing to do with their hate fueled faith or their country.

[Little Tich]

15. Actually, executing people for "apostasy" is what ISIS does. I think the comparison is apt. n/t

[oberliner]

27. The vast majority of scholars have held that apostasy in Islam is a crime punishable by death

This is very much a mainstream position within that faith tradition.

Many Islamic countries have severe penalties for apostasy, including, in some cases, the death penalty.

[blackspade]

17. ISIS-like is an understatement.

More like worse than ISIS.

[SoapBox]

19. Fuck the Saudis...

Primitive freaks with money.

[oberliner]

28. This is not unique to the Saudis

Apostasy is treated similarly in other Islamic countries as well.

[elias49]

35. An important distinction though is we're not best friends

with some other Islamic countries.

[oberliner]

36. It is not a values-based friendship

But rather a strategic-economic one.

[elias49]

39. I think it strains morality

to ignore fundamental values for material gain.
I wouldn't be a friend, personally, with a rich and well-connected man in my community - one who, say, might be in a position to help me advance a career - if he was a bigot. Or a racist.

[oberliner]

40. The US is not exactly a paragon of virtue either

International affairs can be a pretty ugly business, though I certainly do take your point.

[rpannier]

20. That'll be a trend

Everyone and their third cousin will be comparing it now

[William Seger]

21. It ain't slander if it's true. (n/t)

[yuiyoshida]

22. I WONDER if Saudi Arabia expects to get

their compensation if the person is in the states? Most people would laugh at it and rip it up (If it came by mail.) Collecting what ever amount they deem may be more difficult than they expect.

[Jim Lane]

44. If the author is in the U.S., the litigation could be very entertaining

It might be over quickly. There's no cause of action for defamation for the expression of an opinion, so the defendant's lawyer could go for a quick motion to dismiss and get the case thrown out.

A more creative lawyer, though, might decide to have some fun with it. In the U.S., litigants have extensive rights to obtain information before trial, a process known as discovery. Saudi Arabia could be compelled to turn over a wide array of documents relating to the subject, and then one or more responsible officials could be compelled to answer questions under oath. Wouldn't that be an interesting process!

[Feeling the Bern]

23. Send everyone here the Tweet. I'd love to post and repost and repost!

Fucking assholes the House of Saud is! Worthless, stone aged motherfuckers.

[Marrah_G]

24. They can't sue over the truth

[Contrary1]

25. Everyone who has a Twitter account should do the same...

Maybe the Saudis will be so busy suing people, they won't have time to carry out the inhumane sentences for ridiculous charges like this.

[oberliner]

26. Saudi court sentences poet to death for renouncing Islam

A Palestinian poet and leading member of Saudi Arabia’s nascent contemporary art scene has been sentenced to death for renouncing Islam.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/20/saudi-court-sentences-poet-to-death-for-renouncing-islam

Islam does very clearly state that the punishment for apostasy is death.

I would be curious to know what percentage of Muslims agree with this internationally.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

38. "I would be curious to know what percentage of Muslims agree with this internationally."

Insert bromides about "This is not the religion I know, it is one of peace and love!" here.

Such bullshit means as much to me as when fundy Xtians spout the love the sinner hate the sin bullshit.

[oberliner]

41. Here is some information from a Pew survey on this topic (2013)

Note, that this poll is of Muslims who believe Sharia law should be the law of the land (which is the majority across the Middle East, North African and South/Southeast Asia).

[Yorkist]

67. I see there's no figure there for Saudi......

.........I daresay that's because you'd be putting yourself at considerable risk just asking the question.

It's all very depressing. I simply don't get it. Why, if you're an enthusiast and flag waver for IS and what it stands for, would you not just go live in Saudi Arabia ?

[Turbineguy]

29. Must. Not. Point. At.

Emperor's. Weenie. And. Giggle.

[Sinpledon]

30. How backward

Their practices are ISIS-like.

[Aria36]

31. attempting to chill free speech

So yeah, no one in the world can ever critic ize Saudi Arabia now? The death sentence was ISIS-like. Words almost because its coming from an established state. Can we stop pretending these ruthless, backward assholes are our ally?

[cstanleytech]

33. You do realize that Saudi Arabia is an entirely different nation with no

free speech clause like the United States, right?

[wolfie001]

47. We should still protest their backwardness

Right?

[cstanleytech]

51. Well if you want to voice your opinion then, ya by all means feel free but

that will not change the fact that the people of Saudi Arabia and in alot of other places in the world simply do not have any free speech clause that protects them.
Even here on the DU we dont have free speech really because the clause only protects protects people from the government interfering with speech but the DU is not part of the government.

[Aria36]

56. Twitter is global

I realize Saudi Arabia has (brutal, inhumane) Sharia law in that country. But Twitter is global - a Tewwet can be seen by people in Saudi Arabia or the US. This seems like Saudi Arabia's attempt to intimidate ANYONE from critcizing their actions.

[cstanleytech]

58. Really????

My point is just that in Saudi Arabia and in alot of other countries in this world if you are inside them you dont have a right to free speech or atleast not a legal right.
Do I think they will win this lawsuit? Maybe, its going to depend on where the person is located but if they are in the US the US courts will most likely shoot them down.

[Aria36]

61. Really!!

Your point is pointless. The article doesn't mention where the Tweet came from. If the User lives in Saudi Arabia, of course Saudi Arabia will win. If the User doesn't live in SA, there can still be a default judgment in SA. What happens if that person ever travels to SA? What happens to family members living in SA, are they liable? Maybe SA can make Twitter turn over data on their users. This is dangerous. Even if a user lives in a country w/"free speech," SA can try to punish them anyway. The goal is to make anyone think twice before posting something negative about Saudi Arabia - extending the effect of Sharia law across the globe.

[cstanleytech]

64. No, pointless is whining about someones free speech being violated in a country that

doesnt grant that right to its citizens.

[Aria36]

66. I'm talking about EVERYONE'S free speeech - not just people in SA

SA is trying to chill free speech on the Internet - that extends to not just SA but people in free countries as well. And yes I will whine about that.

[Gore1FL]

32. Sued for Definition of Character? n/t

[Coventina]

43. ZING!

[sulphurdunn]

34. Saudi Arabia is the Bank of ISIS.

A resolution to the ME conflict is not possible so long as billions and billions of Western dollars continue flowing into the hands of these savages.

[Aria36]

57. Not to mention US military weapons! nt

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

37. Sue for what? The right to cut his head off too?

Fucking barbarians.

[Coventina]

45. Let me just add to the general sentiment here: Saudi Arabia is ISIS like

No small wonder, considering that the Saudis BANKROLL those creeps.

[valerief]

46. Why aren't we just as mad over the Saudi's human rights violations against women

on a daily basis? Women are slaves there. It's part of how they interpret their religion there.

http://www.theweek.co.uk/60339/eleven-things-women-in-saudi-arabia-cannot-do
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2013/10/28/saudi-arabias-oppression-of-women-goes-way-beyond-its-ban-on-driving/

[roamer65]

48. We should have bombed Riyadh instead of Baghdad.

The 9/11 hijackers were Saudis. That is exactly where our bombs should have landed.

[Coventina]

50. I was jumping up and down yelling that to anyone who would listen back in 2003

on edit: typo

[ozone_man]

49. Our friends are awesome!

Not.

[gembaby1]

52. Saudi Arabia is not ISIS-like.....it is the progenitor of ISIS and All Sunni islamic extremism

Please read this,it explains quite a bit about this



[link:http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/21/opinion/saudi-arabia-an-isis-that-has-made-it.html?_r=1|

[Turborama]

53. "Saudi Arabia, an ISIS That Has Made It" - I was just about to post that in response.

Wise minds, etc.

Or more precisely, as the article says: "The Islamic State; Saudi Arabia".

[wildbilln864]

55. Fuggum!

is it not a matter of free speech? they should lose and be counter sued!

[2naSalit]

60. HA! Good luck with that, Sauds. nt

[LiberalLovinLug]

63. I'm not on twitter

But if I was, I'd be re-tweeting like crazy, if thats the right term for it. They should have their servers overloaded with responses to this. What a despicable evil empire the Saudis are. And what kind of religion, in order to be relevant, has to demand servitude or death?

[Jesus Malverde]

68. And the winner is....