Blasphemy Case Against Nergal "Dismissed"

According to Dzeinnik.pl "Gdynia District Court on Monday dismissed the case" against Adam Darski, better known to the world as Nergal, frontman for the extreme metal band Behemoth.

"The court held that there was no crime," according to the report. However, the prosecutor "announced an appeal against that decision." Attorneys for Ryszard Nowak, chief cook and head bottle washer of the Polish National Committee for Defense Against Sects, announced that the appeal would be filed as soon as the Court provides "written reasons for its decision" to dismiss the case.

The case stems from a September 2007 Behemoth concert in the city of Gdynia, during which Nergal announced that "the Catholic Church is the most murderous sect in history". After this, Darski then publicly tore up a copy of the Bible, and distributed the fragments to the audience, requesting that these be burned.

For background on this case (and related cases, including that of Darski's fiance Doda Elektroda) see the earlier post on "Sex, Religion, Art, Music & Freedom of Expression in Poland".

Israelis barred from Pride events

In Madrid, an Israeli singer's concert, scheduled as part of that city's July 3rd Pride events, has been cancelled. The singer in question is Dana International, an Israeli transgender singer who won the 1998 Eurovision song contest. It was also announced that the Israeli contingent would be barred from the Madrid Pride Parade.

The president of Spain's Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Transexuals and Bisexuals linked these moves to the Israeli response to the Gaza "peace flotilla": "After what has happened, it seemed barbaric to us as human rights campaigners to have Israelis take part."

Israel passed comprehensive legislation banning all discrimination against LGBT people over two decades ago. Gays serve openly in the Israeli military. On the other hand, legal protections for LGBT people are non-existent in the Palestinian territories. There are a few Palestinian LGBT rights groups, but these are headquartered in Israel, because no such organization can openly function in either Gaza or the West Bank.

In a related story, on June 8th, two Israeli business men were injured while attending a conference at the Autonomous University of Madrid. A group of demonstrators broke into the location of the conference, at which many Israelis were participants, chanting "Murderers!!". As conference participants were being escorted away by police they were pelted with stones, resulting in injuries to two Israelis. The police stated that they believed "most of the rioters were Muslims."

Sources:
Arab-Israeli Tensions Spill Over to Pride Celebrations
Israeli float banned from Madrid's Gay Pride Parade
Michael Lucas on Madrid’s Bad Pride
Jerusalem Open House
Israel, Palestine, Gays
Palestinian Gay Runaways Survive on Israeli Streets
Our country is safe for Israelis despite Madrid attack
Spain: Pro-Palestinian activists attack Israeli businessmen

UPDATE: July 10th date set by European Values Study

According to the website of the European Values Study:

"The fieldwork of the European Values Study 2008 is now completed. A first release of the data to the general public will be ready on July 10th, 2010."

As I mentioned earlier I am especially eager to see the most results for how the belief in reincarnation is holding up in Europe.

Dr. Erlendur Haraldsson (Professor Emeritus University of Iceland) published a fascinating study in 2006 based largely on past European Values Study data: "Popular psychology, belief in life after death and reincarnation" (click here to download the pdf). Here's the abstract of that paper:

The European Values Survey explores national differences and similarities, also regarding religious beliefs which express popular assumptions regarding the nature of man and the ontological status of consciousness. These views differ radically from the dominant scientific view, also in academic psychology. The Nordic countries vary considerably in their beliefs in life after death and reincarnation with half of the respondents believing in life after death, and 43 percent of these believing in reincarnation which also goes against established views of the Christian Church. This shows independence from scientific as well as religious authorities. Is it a remnant of pre-Christian beliefs, due to exposure to Buddhist and Hindu concepts, or a sign of original independent thinking? Half a century of anti-religious regimes in Eastern Europe seems to have had no major effect on beliefs about personal survival, and the European Values Survey shows a widespread belief in reincarnation.

One in five Dutch teachers avoid the Holocaust

"A fifth of history teachers in the four major Dutch cities have had to deal with not being able to or rarely bringing up the Holocaust because Muslim students in particular have difficulties with it."

This is according to a survey conducted by Elsevier magazine and ResearchNed (an independent social sciences research institute).

The story was originally reported at AD.nl (in Dutch), and an English translation is available at the Islam in Europe website.

Doda in Kluczbork: "Those Who Expected Scandal Were Not Disappointed"

According to media reports, Polish singer Doda (already facing a possible two year prison sentence under Poland's anti-blasphemy laws) arrived for her Friday night concert in the town of Kluczbork "w klatce, ubrana w futurystyczny mundurek, odsłaniający pół piersi i całe pośladki" ("in a cage, dressed in a futuristic uniform, revealing half of breast and whole buttocks.")

After she finished her opening number, Doda left the stage and the voice of Pope John Paul II boomed out over the sound system:

"My dear young friends, I am so glad that you are here tonight."

After this the words: "I am psycho" (in English) and "I am a freak" ("Jestem świrem" in Polish) were flashed on the giant screens on either side of the stage.

Then Doda reappeared on stage dressed as a witch to sing her next song.

According to Nowa Tribuna Opolska, "Ci, którzy oczekiwali skandalizującego zachowania, nie zawiedli się. Na koncercie są tysiące ludzi." ("Those who were expecting scandalous behavior were not disappointed.")

A video of part of the performance has already been uploaded to youtube:

"Juden Raus": Muslim Teenagers Stone Jews In Hanover

From Ha'aretz:

Muslim youths in Germany throw stones at Jewish street performers
By Ofer Aderet

BERLIN - Jewish dancers staging a street performance in Hanover, Germany were attacked by a group of stone-throwing Muslim youths, German police said yesterday.

According to police, the assailants were young people of Lebanese, Palestinian and Iranian origin. They reportedly threw stones at the dancers and taunted them by yelling phrases like "Juden raus" ("Jews out" ). The performance had to be stopped, and two of the attackers - aged 14 and 19 - were arrested.

Hanover Mayor Stephan Weil described the incident as "unacceptable." Aygul Ozkan, social affairs and integration minister for the local government of Lower Saxony, said she was seriously concerned by the incident. Ozkan last year became the first minister of Turkish-Muslim origin to be appointed in Germany.

Charlotte Knobloch, chair of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, said the incident posed a new social challenge to Germany. "I'm saddened this anti-Semitic attack involved children and young people," she said.

Police noted this was the first anti-Semitic incident in Hanover this year to have been committed by someone other that right-wing extremists.

Juliane Wetzel, of the Bundestag committee against anti-Semitism, said she was not surprised by the incident. "Jews in Germany have faced violent attacks for years, especially in light of the conflict in the Middle East," she said.

A more detailed account of this sickening incident can be found in an article at the Hannoversche Algemeine. That's auf Deutsch -- a good English translation can be found at the Islam in Europe website here.

[The photo in this post was originally taken at a Jewish cemetery in Herrlisheim, eastern France in April, 2004. It is from Vazelines' photo gallery at "picasa". Here is a direct link to the photo.]

Doda: "Forbidden Fruit Tastes Better"

It almost seems as if Poland's infamous National Committee for Defense Against Sects (a right-wing Catholic group) is trying to make Doda (Dorota Rabczewska) even more famous than she already is.

The illustrious president of this "Committee", Ryszard Nowak, keeps demanding cancelation of Doda's concerts on the grounds that she is liable to commit the criminal act of blasphemy while she is on stage. Every time Nowak opens his mouth, more Doda tickets are sold.

In a statement released this Monday, Rabczewska herself predicted that Nowak's efforts will continue to add to the success of her current Rock'n'Roll Palace Tour because "Zakazany owoc smakuje lepiej", which translates to "forbidden fruit tastes better."

The Polish singer, who came in second in the 2009 MTV Music Awards Best European Act competition, also said that the publicity resulting from the accusations that she is "scandalous" and "blasphemous" has been "bezcenna" ("priceless").

Controversy and censorship are not new to Doda, who was forced to change two lines from her song "Diamond Bitch" when she competed at the Superjedynki competition in June 2008, at which she won "Artist of the Year." (Scroll down for the lyrics, in both Polish and English, and see if you can guess which lines were censored).

Doda's St. Johns' Night concert in Tomaszów Lubelski this evening (Wed. June 23) went ahead as scheduled, and this weekend she is headlining at the Kluczbork Days Festival in the town of Kluczbork, despite the continued protests of Nowak and his "Committee."

"Diamond Bitch" lyrics
Gdy tylko ruszę tyłkiem, Once the moves booty,
lecisz niczym pies. fly like a dog.
Znów całą noc marzyłeś, Again, all night long dreamed of,
żeby móc powąchać mnie. to be able to sniff me.
Wiem jak chcesz robić to, I know how you do it,
tylko ja tą rozkosz dam! I only give this delight!


Moje uda rozchylone, My thighs parted,
moje piersi tak cię podniecają! my breasts so you excited!
Moje usta rozpalone, My mouth is burning,
moje biodra już Ci spać nie dają! my hips now you can not sleep!

Gdy było nam źle starałeś się- When we were bad, you tried to
nosiłeś smycz z diamentami! nosiłeś leash from the diamond!
Stało się tak, że na mój znak It happened so that my sign
zjawił się ktoś między nami! someone came between us!


Gdy pani ci pozwoli, When you you will,
wyliżesz grzecznie ją. lick it politely.
Lubisz jak cię dotyka! Do you like how you touch!
Wyuzdana jestem bo, Because I'm promiscuous,
wiem jak chcesz robić to, I know how you do it,
tylko ja tą rozkosz dam! I only give this delight!


Moje uda rozchylone, My thighs parted,
moje piersi tak cię podniecają! my breasts so you excited!
Moje usta rozpalone, My mouth is burning,
moje biodra już Ci spać nie dają! my hips now you can not sleep!

Gdy było nam źle starałeś się- When we were bad, you tried to
nosiłeś smycz z diamentami! nosiłeś leash with diamonds!
Stało się tak, że na mój znak It happened so that my sign
zjawił się ktoś między nami! someone came between us!


Gdy prosisz mnie When you ask me
o jeszcze raz, tracisz mój czas! here again, you lose my time!
Gdy prosisz o When you ask for
ten jeden dzień, znów męczysz mnie! This one day, wearied me again!


Moje uda rozchylone, My thighs parted,
moje piersi tak cię podniecają! my breasts so you excited!
Moje usta rozpalone, My mouth is burning,
moje biodra już Ci spać nie dają! my hips now you can not sleep!

Gdy było nam źle starałeś się- When we were bad, you tried to
nosiłeś smycz z diamentami! nosiłeś leash with diamonds!
Stało się tak, że na mój znak It happened so that my sign
zjawił się ktoś między nami! someone came between us!

Moje uda rozchylone, My thighs parted,
moje piersi tak cię podniecają! my breasts so you excited!
Moje usta rozpalone, My mouth is burning,
moje biodra już Ci spać nie dają! my hips now you can not sleep!

Gdy było nam źle starałeś się- When we were bad, you tried to
nosiłeś smycz z diamentami! nosiłeś leash with diamonds!
Stało się tak, że na mój znak It happened so that my sign
zjawił się ktoś między nami! someone came between us!

Doda Elektroda & the Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski

Noc Świętojańska (St John's Night) is the traditional Polish celebration of Midsummer (the Summer Solstice, more or less). But this year the holiday has a new name: Noc Świętojańska z Dodą. That means "St. John's Night of Doda."

That's because Polish pop-music phenomenon Dorota Rabczewska, (aka Doda Elektroda or simply Doda), is the headliner for a "St. Johns' Night" concert this evening in Tomaszów Lubelski, a small Polish town previously known primarily as the sight of one of the major battles in the infamous joint Nazi-Soviet invasion of Poland in 1939.

Doda is currently under indictment for violating Article 196 of the Polish Criminal Code which prohibits "offending religious feelings." The charges stem from a television interview the singer gave in 2009 in which she stated that, in her opinion, the Bible is not a reliable source of accurate information, and she also speculated that some of those who wrote the Bible did so under the influence of mind-altering drugs.

Ryszard Nowak, the head of the right-wing ultra-Catholic (and Orwellianly named) National Committee for Defense Against Sects, had demanded that the city of Tomaszów Lubelski cancel the concert. The city has refused to do so, and the obsessivly litigious Nowak has warned that if Doda says anything "blasphemous" during the concert that he intends to take legal action against the town's mayor, Ryszard Sobczuk.

Very little information about all this is available in English. But if you do a google search on "bluźnierczej Dody" (without the quotes) and then use google translate, you can get a good idea of what is going on. In Polish "bluźnierczej" means "blasphemous".

Two More "Hate Speech" Cases Rearing Their Ugly Heads In Europe

Jesper Langballe (Denmark) and Bruce Bawer (Norway) have now entered the ranks of Europe's growing population of coal-mine dwelling small passarine birds of the genus Serinus in the finch family. That is to say, their right to freedom of speech is being attacked because they have chosen to exercise that right to criticize religious beliefs and practices they disagree with.

Langballe is a leading member of one of the parties making up the current governing coalition in Denmark. Last week the Danish parliament voted to strip Langballe of his immunity, as a member of Parliament, from being prosecuted for the crime of having written an editorial criticizing Islam for it's poor record with respect to women's rights.

Bawer is an American born writer, poet and literary critic who has lived in Oslo for over a decade. Last week Bawer announced that he had recently discovered that the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Children, Equality, and Social Inclusion had commissioned a report that specifically attacks Bawer for promoting "Islamophobia."

Langballe and Bawer are in good, or at least very interesting, company, including:

Geert Wilders (Netherlands)
Rokku Abdilla and Anthony Neilson (Malta)
Javier Krahe (Spain)
Oriana Fallaci (France and Italy)
Dorota Nieznalska, Jerzy Urban, Adam Darski, and Dorota Rabczewska (Poland)

It should be noted that the cases in Malta, Spain and Poland involve individuals who criticized, or were accused of "insulting" or "offending", the Roman Catholic Church, not Islam.

And there are also at least two notable cases in the European Diaspora as well: those of Mark Steyn and Ezra Levant in Canada, and Danny Nalliah in Australia.

To put things into properly ironic context, just one month ago, on May 20, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling upon the nation of Pakistan:

to carry out a “thoroughgoing review” of its blasphemy laws because they were “open to misuse.” It also condemned the “contradiction” between the Pakistani government’s commitment to religious freedom and its “leading role” in the Organisation of the Islamic Conference in seeking the UN’s condemnation of “defamation of religion.”
[from: Blasphemy laws - European Parliament asked to be consistent about blasphemy article at Reporters Without Borders website]