A decision by a French court to postpone a robbery trial involving a Muslim defendant until the end of the holy month of Ramadan has set off a new fracas about whether France’s fiercely secularist institutions are bending to religious demands.
The court in the western city of Rennes did not cite the period of religious fasting as the reason for rescheduling the trial, which was due to begin Sept. 16. It stated only that the decision was made to ensure “a good administering of justice.”
The prosecutor in the case, Léonard Bernard de la Gratinais, responded to the protests by saying at an impromptu news conference that Ramadan had nothing to do with the postponement. “That could be contrary to the principles of the republic,” he said.
But several observers argued that the request to reschedule the trial had been filed by the Muslim defendant explicitly on the grounds that he would be fasting and therefore at a disadvantage during the proceedings.
The Brits and Americans are still in the lead when it comes to bending over for religious claptrap. Cripes! I live in a county where you probably could get a continuation if your astrologer was in a trance and couldn’t be disturbed.
[sarcasm]
If you bend over for Christian claptrap you have to bend over any other kind of religious clap trap. It’s only fair.
[end sarcasm]
It is tiring seeing everyone enabling the beliefs of those who espouse any kind supernaturalism (Christians, Muslims, Jews, etc, etc). Nothing unreal exists. Duh.
Well–if you presume innocent until proven guilty, and if you accept that the guy would not ably aid his own defense for some 30 day period, and he is in jail/bail meantime==why not err on the side of a “fair trial?”
Hey-most of us are stupid about something. Until guilt is establish, society should show every reasonable accommodation.
Answer… night court. Muslims CAN eat at night during Ramadan.
So, if I am part of a religion that states going to prison is against the will of god, can I go to Paris and commit crimes without fear of jail time?
Very cool political cartoon 🙂
(poor translation warning)
“Mohammed overrun by Integristes”
(Integristes wanted to return control of Spain to the Church – if I read that right)
Balloon: “It’s hard to be loved by idiots”
Was part of the prosecution’s evidence, to have him eat?
Perhaps while they are respecting his religious heritage, they should go ahead and respect it all the way to the sentencing stage. In for a penny, y’know? Let’s see.. will it be crucifixion, lopping the hands off, or maybe just banishment from the land.. decisions, decisions…
oh, btw, IANAM, so correct me if I’m wrong here..
March his hungry ass into court.
What the heck is going on?
I’m a muslim and I fast – i’m also disable in a wheelchair and I fast.
When I was a kid around 15 years of age and doing exams – 3 hour ones here in the UK – I used to fast and at that time it was the summer and they the fasts were about 18 hours long.
If this guy has done something and is on trial for it, what is the problem – millions of muslims work, fast and pray. around the world it dosnt impair you in the least. well you get a mild headache – and the purpose is to teach self displine – may be the guy shoulda been fasting instead of up to mischief the nut.
This is just silly of the French but so is all this cartoon nonsence too – its ok i not reaching critical mass and going to combust – its just not funny and somewhat disrespect thats all.
#11 “This is just silly of the French but so is all this cartoon nonsence too – its ok i not reaching critical mass and going to combust – its just not funny and somewhat disrespect thats all.”
It’s called free speech…
#10–corzair==I took your post as being against the French for postponning the trial and THEREFORE that your complaint about the nonsense about the cartoons is that you think muslims should not riot over their being published?
but Paddy takes the opposite view, so I’m curious==what side are you taking?
#3 “Until guilt is establish, society should show every reasonable accommodation.”
I’m not religious by any means but I can certainly respect other people’s beliefs. I couldn’t agree more with your statement. After all, who does it really hurt to postpone the trial for 30 days if he’s in jail or out on bail? The key phrase is “reasonable accommodation”.
“who does it really hurt to postpone the trial for 30 days ”
How about the victim? The witnesses? The taxpayers paying the costs of his pointlessly extended incarceration?
#14–Jim–the prosecutor did not object so everything must be kosher. The “point” of extended incarceration is as the judge said “to ensure “a good administering of justice.”
What have you got against a good administering of justice?
Here in the west we belive in a FAIR trail.Lets call this what it is…..Racism.Back off on the Arabs they want to live here to.
Freedom of speech? seems more like freedom to hate, to be racist and to be stupid,like most of you American bums here.
#17–zorkor==yes, you have it just about right. FREEDOM does include hateful, racist, and stupid speech.
How do you define FREEDOM zorkor. You obviously use hateful, racist, and stupid speech right here on this blog everytime you post=====so you must by one of those hypocritical types that want freedom for yourself but also want the police power to require everyone around you to believe the same things you do?
Good Muslim. Now back to the 12th Century with you.