Egypt's grand mufti issues fatwa: no sculpture

CAIRO – More than 1,300 years after the Muslim conquest swept through Iran Dokht News

CAIRO – More than 1,300 years after the Muslim conquest swept through Egypt, one of the country's highest religious authorities has declared that its ancient sculptures are forbidden by Islam.
In his fatwa - or religious ruling - issued earlier this month, Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa quoted a saying of the prophet Muhammad that sculptors will be among those receiving the harshest punishment on Judgment Day.

Artists and intellectuals here say the edict, whose ban on producing and displaying sculptures overturns a century-old fatwa, runs counter to Islam. They also worry that extremists may use the ruling as a pretense for destroying Egypt's ancient relics, which form a pillar of the country's multibillion-dollar tourist industry.

I'm sure Egypt will not allow the wholesale destruction of all art in the land of the Pharaohs since they rely very heavily on tourism and the sale of these 'idols in danger of corrupting minds to worship them". Best to issue a fatwa against blowing up other Egyptians and tourists first.

Leap Frog


Image, Diane, AFD

No relenting, the struggling women of Iran need our continued support.

After empowering the nation with destructive nuclear technology, these days Islamic Regime is busy empowering Iranian women with mobile solitary cells (Compulsory Hejab) to battle the infidels’ democratic diversions. No relenting, the struggling women of Iran need our continued support.

HELP SAVE FATEMEH - URGENT - IMMINENT EXECUTION

HELP SAVE FATEMEH - SIGN PETITION HERE

Photo Faith Freedom

Excerpts-

UA: IRAN

28 March 2006

More news on UA 281 /04

Fatemeh Haghighat-Pajouh is reportedly scheduled to be executed on or before 1 April 2006. She was sentenced to death for the murder of her husband.

IMMINENT EXECUTION

IRAN

* FATEMEH HAGHIGHAT-PAJOUH'S TRAGIC STORY

"The stay of execution granted to Fatemeh Haghighat-Pajouh on 12 October 2004 was rescinded by the Supreme Court. Her execution has been reportedly scheduled to take place on or before 1 April 2006.

Fatemeh Haghighat-Pajouh was sentenced to death for the murder of her husband.

She alleged that her husband was a drug addict who had tried to rape her daughter from a previous marriage, who was 15 years old at the time.

Apparently he had previously told her that he had lost the girl in a gambling match. Amnesty International does not know when she was arrested, but she may have been tried in 2002.

The Head of the Judiciary, Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, had stayed Fatemeh Haghighat-Pajouh's execution after reading a letter written to him by her daughter, entitled "Don’t render my hopes hopeless", in which she appealed for clemency for her mother.

Fatemeh Haghighat-Pajouh was then held in Evin prison in the capital, Tehran, whilst her case was sent to the second Division of the Supreme Court for review.

According to a report in the Iranian newspaper Hamshahri on 15 March 2006, the Court has confirmed the death sentence against Fatemeh Haghighat-Pajouh and has reportedly approved the execution.

Her lawyer was reported to be intending to ask the Head of the Judiciary to use his powers to issue another stay of execution."

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Persian, English, French or your own language:

- expressing concern that the stay of execution granted to Fatemeh Haghighat-Pajouh has been rescinded after almost 18 months;

- urging that the death sentence imposed on Fatemeh Haghighat-Pajouhbe commuted immediately;

- urging the authorities to ensure that the victim’s family is made aware of its right, under Islamic law, to pardon the condemned;

- reminding the Iranian authorities of their commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in particular Article 3A: Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

National Council of Resistance of Iran - Foreign Affairs Committee

Read our friend Kat - Islam, Freedom and Democracy