Where is the outrage?Mike Rappaport

It is not just in Europe:

A community debate over religious freedom surfaced in WesternPennsylvania last week when Dutch feminist author Ayaan Hirsi Ali, aSomali refugee who has lived under the threat of death for denouncingher Muslim upbringing, made an appearance at the University ofPittsburgh at Johnstown.

Imam Fouad ElBayly, president of the Johnstown Islamic Center, was among those who objected to Hirsi Ali’s appearance.

“She has been identified as one who has defamed the faith. If you comeinto the faith, you must abide by the laws, and when you decide todefame it deliberately, the sentence is death,” said ElBayly, who cameto the U.S. from Egypt in 1976.

Although ElBayly believes a death sentence is warranted for Hirsi Ali,he stressed that America is not the jurisdiction where such a crimeshould be punished. Instead, Hirsi Ali should be judged in a Muslimcountry after being given a trial, he added.

“If it is found that a person is mentally unstable, or a childor disabled, there should be no punishment,” he said. “It’s a verymerciful religion if you try to understand it.”

When a religious leader in the United States makes a statement like this, there should be strong reactions and protests.   The religious leader and his congregation should be made to understand that people in the United States believe that killing people for their beliefs or comments about a religion is an outrageous violation of rights and that it undermines the freedom and harmony that the United States system promotes.   It is amazing that the nation goes crazy when Don Imus insults people but seems to say nothing when religious leaders advocate the killing of people because they are perceived to have insulted Islam.

(Hat tip: Glenn Reynolds)