A Pennsylvania state judge recently dismissed an assault case involving a Muslim man who attacked an atheist for insulting the Prophet Muhammad.
The judge's decision has outraged freedom of speech proponents and some legal experts, who say it is in clear violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Some legal experts are also wondering if this case demonstrates how Islamic sharia law is slowly creeping into the U.S. legal system.
The incident occurred last year in Mechanicsburg, Pa., when an atheist came dressed as "Zombie Muhammad" for a Halloween parade.
Forty-six-year-old Talaag Elbayomy was accused of attacking Ernest Perce V, with the Parading Atheists of Central Pennsylvania, during the Oct. 11 parade.
Perce claimed Elbayomy tried to take his "Muhammad of Islam" sign and choked him. The incident was caught on video.
Read the rest of the article on CBN here.
***Personal Note: While I agree that the atheist was in poor taste for even performing as a zombie Muhammad, he should still, under our laws, be allowed his freedom to speak as he so wishes. Good or bad. As such, Elbayomy, the Muslim who was offended, should not have attacked him. For the judge to spend 6 or 7 minutes berating Perce over his actions, and only give a slight nod to Elbayomy's offense, is one of the reasons such tension exists today.
I agree, the evidence, without witnesses, is not enough to convict either man. But a good berating would have done both men a world of good!
Poor judgement on both parts should not be tolerated.
If it were up to me, I would have dismissed the case as well. But would have told both men that should either come across my bench again for prejudice activity, I'd have them in jail!
But that's just my two cents worth. - cbh
