Arab Israeli Legislator Proposes Ban on Insults to Mohammed (and Possibly All Cartoons of Mohammed)

Israel Hayom reports:

Arab MK Ibrahim Sarsur (Ra’am-Ta’al) has reintroduced [together with two other legislators from Arab parties] legislation that would lower the threshold for what is considered a racist offense and would ban the publication of materials that disparage the Prophet Muhammad [as well as Moses, Jesus, and various religious scriptures] through a “cartoon, defamation and insult.”

Israeli law apparently already bans “crudely offensive” actions towards a religion or religionists; the bill would remove “crudely” and give specific examples of what is covered, “such as the drawing of the Prophet Muhammad.” Sarsur is quoted as saying, in the bill’s preamble:

The publication of a cartoon that depicts the Prophet Muhammad is highly insulting towards Muslim believers as Islamic law forbids any attempt to draw the prophet or try to portray the image of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him ….

There has recently been a noticeable increase in the attempts to hurt members of various faiths, whether directly or indirectly, including Muslims [including through slurs and “acts that cast a negative light on Islamic symbols.”]

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