Offended Muslim chokes atheist, and then ...(edited

Offended Muslim chokes atheist

A Muslim judge in Pennsylvania – who scolded a local atheist for offending Islam, called him a doofus and accused him of “using the First Amendment” to madden Muslims – dismissed harassment charges against the Muslim defendant who purportedly choked the atheist during a Halloween parade.

District Judge Mark Martin brought a Quran to court and told the alleged victim, American Atheists’ Pennsylvania State Director Ernest Perce V, “I think you misinterpreted a couple of things. So before you start mocking somebody else’s religion, you might want to find out a little more about it. It kind of makes you look like a doofus.”

The judge added, “I think our forefathers intended to use the First Amendment so we can speak with our mind, not to p— off other people and cultures – which is what you did.”

Perce had worn a “zombie Muhammad” costume and proclaimed that he was the Prophet Muhammad risen from the dead at the Oct, 11, 2011, event in Mechanicsburg, Pa. A “zombie pope” was also featured in the parade that night.

Now the Scranton Atheism Examiner reports that Perce could be arrested for posting audio of the judge scolding him for mocking Muhammad. According to report, the Muslim judge has threatened to hold him in contempt of court for releasing the recording. Perce has claimed he was given permission to post the audio.

The Examiner reports that Perce said he posted the audio because the judge treated him unfairly and showed preferential treatment for the Muslim defendant.

According to reports, the atheists were marching when Talaag Elbayomy, a Muslim, stormed out of the crowd and assaulted Perce, grabbing a sign around his neck and pulling until the strings choked him.

The men caught the attention of a nearby police officer.

Mechanicsburg Police Officer Bryan Curtis told Pennsylvania’s WHTM-TV, “Mr. Perce has the right to do what he did that evening, and the defendant in this case was wrong in what he did in confronting him.”

He added, “I believe that I brought a case that showed proof beyond a reasonable doubt, and the case was dismissed, and I was disappointed.”

Elbayomy – who said he believed it was illegal to mock Muhammad – was charged with harassment. He denied touching Perce at trial, but Officer Curtis said Elbayomy admitted grabbing Perce’s sign and beard the night of the incident.

However, Judge Martin dismissed the charges and purportedly belittled the atheist victim....................................

Offended Muslim chokes atheist, and then …

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Harshaw said:

Isn't the bigger story here that the judge dismissed the case? He has a . . . novel . . . view on the First Amendment.

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Sparky said:

According to the news source, the Judge was muslim. Isn't that a conflict of interest?

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Sparky said:

According to the news source, the Judge was muslim. Isn't that a conflict of interest?

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Sparky said:

This news source is slanted so take with a grain of salt

Offended Muslim chokes atheist, and then …

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Sparky said:

According to the news source, the Judge was muslim. Isn't that a conflict of interest?

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A district judge dismissed a harassment charge against a man accused of attacking a man dressed as "Zombie Muhammad" during a Halloween parade last year in Mechanicsburg.

Judge Mark Martin said there wasn't enough evidence to convict 46-year-old Talaag Elbayomy of the summary offense. It was basically one man's word against another's, the judge said.

Elbayomy was accused of attacking Ernest Perce V, of the Parading Atheists of Central PA, during the Oct. 11 parade. Perce claimed Elbayomy tried to take his "Muhammad of Islam" sign and choked him.

Martin received testimony from Elbayomy, Perce and Mechanicsburg Police Sgt. Brian Curtis who received the complaint from Perce. Curtis did not witness the alleged attack, Martin said.

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Frolicking Dinosaurs said:

A less biased source on this story:
West Shore judge dismisses harassment charge against accused 'Zombie Muhammad' attacker | PennLive.com

Seems the judge had reason to dismiss - no one witnessed the alleged assault and the alleged choker did not admit to the crime. The outcome would have been the same had a Christian attack a Zombie Jesus during the parade and there had been no witnesses.

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Sparky said:

This news source is slanted so take with a grain of salt

Offended Muslim chokes atheist, and then …

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Frolicking Dinosaurs said:

A less biased source on this story:
West Shore judge dismisses harassment charge against accused 'Zombie Muhammad' attacker | PennLive.com

Seems the judge had reason to dismiss - no one witnessed the alleged assault and the alleged choker did not admit to the crime. The outcome would have been the same had a Christian attack a Zombie Jesus during the parade and there had been no witnesses.

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Well, having had the benefit of having spent over two-and-a-half years in predominantly Muslim countries, I think I know a little bit about the faith of Islam. In fact, I have a copy of the Quran here, and I would challenge you, Sir, to show me where it says in the Quran that Muhammad arose and walked among the dead. I think you misinterpreted a couple of things. So before you start mocking somebody else’s religion, you might want to find out a little more about it. It kind of makes you look like a doofus. …

In many other Muslim-speaking countries, err, excuse me, many Arabic-speaking countries, predominantly Muslim, something like this is definitely against the law there, in their society. In fact, it could be punished by death, and frequently is, in their society.

Here in our society, we have a Constitution that gives us many rights, specifically First Amendment rights. It’s unfortunate that some people use the First Amendment to deliberately provoke others. I don’t think that’s what our forefathers intended. I think our forefathers intended to use the First Amendment so we can speak with our mind, not to p— off other people and cultures – which is what you did.

I don’t think you’re aware, Sir, there’s a big difference between how Americans practice Christianity – I understand you’re an atheist – but see Islam is not just a religion. It’s their culture, their culture, their very essence, their very being. They pray five times a day toward Mecca. To be a good Muslim before you die, you have to make a pilgrimage to Mecca, unless you’re otherwise told you cannot because you’re too ill, too elderly, whatever, but you must make the attempt. Their greeting is ‘Salam alaikum, wa-laikum as-Salam,’ uh, ‘May God be with you.’

Whenever it is very common, their language, when they’re speaking to each other, it’s very common for them to say, uh, Allah willing, this will happen. It’s, they’re so immersed in it. And what you’ve done is, you’ve completely trashed their essence, their being. They find it very, very, very offensive. I’m a Muslim. I find it offensive. I find what’s on the other side of this [sign] very offensive. (Editor’s note: Reverse of sign said, “Only Muhammad can rape America!) But you have that right, but you are way outside your bounds of First Amendment rights. …

I’ve spent about seven years living in other countries. When we go to other countries, it’s not uncommon for people to refer to us as ‘ugly Americans.’ This is why we hear it referred to as ‘ugly Americans,’ because we’re so concerned about our own rights, we don’t care about other people’s rights. As long as we get our say, but we don’t care about the other people’s say.

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MKULTRABOY said:

Fair enough... as long as people stop bitching about piss Christ I guess everyone's arguments are fair.

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Thorgasm said:

Isn't "Zombie Jesus" redundant?

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1Perry said:

As an aside.......I always hate threads that go "Where is the outrage from the............" especially concerning an obscure circumstance. Give people a chance to form an opinion.

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ThePlayDrive said:

"Where's the outrage from the Left?"

What is this notion that "the Left" has to comment on everything that happens in the United States? So stupid.

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Sparky said:

You could have simply commented without your snide attack calling me stupid but then again that is typical Liberal tactics.

My point being is, if an atheist in a dancing Jesus costume caused a radical christian to attack and choke that athesiest and a christian Judge was presiding the case and sided with and dismissed ALL CHARGES and called the athesiest a doofus in the process, the Libs would be outraged demanding that Judge be removed from the bench.

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Sparky said:

My point being is, if an atheist in a dancing Jesus costume caused a radical christian to attack and choke that athesiest and a christian Judge was presiding the case and sided with and dismissed ALL CHARGES and called the athesiest a doofus in the process, the Libs would be outraged demanding that Judge be removed from the bench.

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