It was more than three years ago when Fazil Say (below), a pianist, composer, and atheist from Turkey, was charged with the crime of mocking Islam. It wasn’t that he drew a cartoon or made some public statement condemning Allah. Rather, he retweeted or told jokes poking fun at the religious — like one about a muezzin who delivered a call to prayer so quickly, it was as if he wanted to get away for a drink. Another joke said, “I am not sure if you have also realised it, but all the pricks, low-lives, buffoons, thieves, jesters, they are all Allahists. Is this a paradox?”

For that, he was sentenced to 18 months in jail. That sentence was later reduced to a suspended 10-month sentence, meaning he could avoid jail if he didn’t commit a similar “crime” over the next five years. It was still a ridiculous charge, as if he did anything wrong in the first place.

It’s taken a long time, but a Turkish court finally overturned Say’s sentence:

The Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that his comments on social media should be regarded as “freedom of thought and expression and thus should not be punished,” the Hurriyet newspaper reported on Monday. The four-to-one majority decision will be sent back to a lower court for a final ruling, which could see Say acquitted of the charges or face further judicial action.

So it’s not entirely a done deal, but it’s a step forward. It’s a form of justice that people like Saudi blogger Raif Badawi have not yet received.

(Image via Facebook. Thanks to Brian for the link)



