SANA’A – Up to 21 prosecution lawyers Looks like they want to get this one right
called for the death penalty for Mohammed Al-Asadi, the Editor-in-Chief of the Yemen Observer, and the permanent closure of the newspaper, during Al-AsadiÂ’s trial on Wednesday.
Ooh, wonder who he killed?
The lawyers, commissioned by Sheik Abdul-Majid Zindani, the Chairman of Islah Shura Council and led by Mohammed Al-Shawish, also called for the confiscation of all the newspaper’s property and assets, and for financial compensation to be paid to be the Muslim’s ‘Finance House’, which last existed during the time of the Caliphs, 1200 years ago.
Sounds like they're making a comeback.
| All hail His Corpulence the Caliph! |
| "Nice job, Abu Bakr! Lopped her nut right off, you did!" |
Oh, oh. I think he's in deep kimchi.
Al-Asadi, who denies all charges, is accused in connection with allegations of republishing insulting cartoons first printed in Denmark of the Prophet Mohammed (
Oh, no. Not that! A capital crime indeed
The newspaper published thumbnail images of the cartoons in the February 4 edition, which were obscured with a thick black cross.
If you clicked on them did they go full size?
Twelve of the prosecution lawyers turned up to the trial
"We've got a quorum",
crowding and jostling each other in the busy court room
a little horse play, boys?.
Several times the lawyers disagreed among themselves, and the judge ordered them to organize their team better.
Good thing there's only one judge
They also demanded personal financial compensation for the psychological trauma they claimed they suffered by the actions of the newspaper, which they said has impaired their ability to do their jobs and follow their normal daily lives.
I didn't know lawyers could suffer psychological trauma.
The lawyers demanded Al-Asadi to be punished according to criminal law. The editor faces a potentially heavy prison sentence if convicted. They also asked the judge that the Yemen Observer should be even made to pay the costs of advertising any sentence made against it by the court. The defense team, Mohammed Naji Alaw and Khalid Al-Ansi, from the human rights HOOD Organization, criticized the prosecution teamÂ’s actions.
| "Those people are crazy!" |
"Some sheik. I forget his name."
Alaw challenged the prosecution’s demands for compensation. “These people are demanding money from the Yemen Observer,” Alaw said. “How much money do they want? Can you put a price on the Prophet Mohammed (
| "Anything less than a demand for all the money in the world is an affront to the Profit! I demand they be arrested and beheaded on the spot!" |
Everybody knows no one in Yemen can read. They just buy it for the pictures
and that the accompanying articles were therefore not part of the case. Al-Asadi, who has already spent 12 days in prison but was released on bail two weeks ago, said: “I am disappointed at the length of time that this ordeal is taking, and at the way the accusations are made. I was surprised at what they asked for, and the damage to the newspaper they want. They want the assets of the newspaper – its computers, equipment and its buildings, as well its money to be confiscated.”
The prosecution lawyers claimed that Al-Asadi and the Yemen Observer should thank them for seeking to solve the issue through the court, and avoid potentially violent reactions from people on the street.
Maybe we can reach an amicable out of court settlement, hint, hint?
However, the defense team said they regarded such comments as a veiled threat of violence.
I'm surprised you can sell veils that small in Yemen.
Judge Sahl Mohammed Hamza said there were many things missing from the prosecution teamÂ’s argument, and told them to complete their file. He was forced to bang his gavel several times to keep order in packed court room, telling one prosecution lawyers to speak on all of the groupÂ’s behalf. He adjourned the court until March 22. It is the second time that the trial has been adjourned. The newspaperÂ’s license to print hardcopies of the paper remains suspended. Three representatives of the international human rights watchdog Amnesty International also attended the trial.
"Everything seems in order," said the Amnesia International mutt. "The judge uses a gavel and everything, just like back home. I just wish I spoke Arabic."