MPV Responds Vehemently To News Of Extradition Of Saudi Blogger Hamza Kashgari

Los Angeles, CA – February 11, 2012 – Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV) Calls Muslim organizations and international leaders to take a stand for human rights in the face of extradition and apostasy charges of Saudi blogger Hamza Kashgari.

Muslims for Progressive Values support freedom of expression and freedom of dissent, whether political, artistic, social or religious, even when that expression may be offensive and that dissent may be considered blasphemous. No one should be legally prosecuted, imprisoned or detained for declaring or promoting unpopular opinions.

As such we denounce the order of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia for the arrest in Malaysia of twentythree year old Saudi writer, Hamza Kashgari for publishing comments online via Twitter in which he portrayed an imaginary conversation with the Prophet Muhammad. We also appeal to the Malaysian government to not acquiesce to the demands of Saudi Arabia for his extradition.

We demand the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia quash the order for Hamza Kashgari’s arrest and any criminal charges that may be pending against him. Any state enforced penalty, either for apostasy or for criticism of our Prophet Muhammad, runs contrary to the true spirit of Islam, who was compassionate even to those who scorned him.

In defense of freedom to think, we invite Muslim, human rights and community organizations, and individuals of conscience to join us in urging international leaders to grant Hamza Kashgari asylum, in the absence of which may lead to death penalty for apostasy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. To learn more about MPV please visit http://www.mpvusa.org
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SEE ALSO:

A DEFENSE OF FREE SPEECH BY AMERICAN AND CANADIAN MUSLIMS http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/a_defense_of_free_speech_by_american_and_canadian_muslims

A Dissenting Voice on Pakistan’s Blasphemy Law, Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, Yoginder Sikand http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/a_dissenting_voice_on_pakistans_blasphemy_law_maulana_wahiduddin_khan

Apostasy and Freedom of Faith in Islam http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/apostasy_and_freedom_of_faith_in_islam

Apostasy, Freedom and Da’wah:  Full Disclosure in a Business-like Manner, Mohammad Omar Farooq http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/apostasy_freedom_and_dawah_full_disclosure_in_a_business_like_manner/

Blasphemy Laws Are Against Islam, Salam Al Marayati http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/blasphemy-laws-are-against-islam

Indonesia Restricting free religious expression, Asma Uddin http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/indonesia_restricting_free_religious_expression

MPAC Supports Effort to Combat Hatred Through Free Speech, Releases Critique of Global Blasphemy Law http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/mpac-supports-effort-to-combat-hatred-through-free-speech-releases-critique

No Compulsion in Religion: A Faith-Based Critique of the ‘Defamation of Religions’ Concept, MPAC http://www.mpac.org/publications/policy-papers/no-compulsion-in-religion-a-faith-based-critique-of-the-defamation-of-religions-concept.php

Reacting to Reactionary Muslims, Jalees Rehman http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jalees-rehman/reacting-to-reactionary-muslims_b_1269957.html

Saudi columnist deported; court order to prevent action too late http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/2/12/nation/20120212185300&sec=nation

Save Hamza Kashgari PETITION http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/hamzakashgari/