Today in Blasphemy
More encouraging news from liberated Afghanistan, via the AP. Note that the journalist convicted of blaspheming the Prophet—and sentenced to death—was not, in fact, responsible for writing the supposedly offensive material, but is rather the brother of the accused:
An Afghan journalist sentenced to death for distributing an article that allegedly violated Islam is actually being punished for reporting by his brother about abuses by northern warlords, a media group said Wednesday.
Sayed Parwez Kaambakhsh, 23, was sentenced to death Tuesday by a three-judge panel in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif for distributing a report he printed off the Internet to fellow journalism students at Balkh University.
The judges said the article humiliated Islam, and members of a clerics council had pushed for Kaambakhsh to be punished.
[…]
Reporters Without Borders called on President Hamid Karzai to intervene. The International Federation of Journalists denounced the holding of the trial in a closed session and Kaambakhsh's lack of a lawyer.
In other blasphemy news, Dutch politician Geert Wilders is attempting to find a broadcaster for his 10-minute anti-Koran film:
Mr Wilders has said his film will show how the Koran is "an inspiration for intolerance, murder and terror". The exact content of the 10-minute film is not yet known, but Mr Wilders says he will screen it on the internet if he cannot find a willing broadcaster. Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said there were "major concerns at home and abroad that the film could be offensive and could lead to reactions that endanger public order, security and the economy."
The Iranian government has advised the Dutch government to prevent any screening of Wilders' film, according to government news agencies.
My interview with Jyllands-Posten culture editor Flemming Rose here.
Update: Jacob Sullum beat me to the Afghan story here.