Punishment Of A Free Mind

You may not have heard of Waleed Al Husseini, a Palestinian atheist living in Jerusalem, but many Middle Eastern atheists and Muslims have. I opened the newspaper a couple of days ago to see a story announcing Waleed's capture! Having a sense of duty I felt that I should write about Waleed and tell his story.

Waleed is a 26 year old unemployed computer science graduate. Day to day he would help his father with a one chair barber shop in the West Bank.
Nowadays Waleed (pictured above) is portrayed as a demon. There is a Facebook page dedicated to his vilification. He is facing charges of defaming religion according to a 1960 Jordanian law that is still valid in the west bank. His crimes are the creation of a controversial blog and two Facebook pages.

Here is the blog that Waleed used to post his arguments against Islam: -
http://noor-alaqel.blogspot.com/
What infuriated the Islamic world most is the fact that this blog is written in Arabic; the language of the Koran and in such a logical, reasonable way.
It illustrates mistakes (in his opinion) that enraged Muslims across the land, triggering them to ask for his execution. He went on to make a facebook page that advertised his blog and gave it further recognition. Here he allowed and encouraged people to debate him, but instead they were more interested in cursing him. Waleed then created a facebook page entitled “Allah”, branding himself the Muslim god and writing new verses as additions to the Koran, which were highly poetic and sarcastic. This infuriated Muslims even more.

I had the honour of speaking to Waleed one day on Facebook chat. I told him that I admired his work, but warned him that he’d be hunted down and it wouldn’t be long before they’d put him in jail, even worse kill him. He replied that he was sick and tired of people thinking that all Palestinians were religious and that they must know that there are atheists in the Arab world. He told me that he was trying to put a message out there…
”People are not forced to read my blog, they have to search for it.” He added “People can easily not like my page on Facebook and never hear of it again”
I happen to think that he had a point.
He also said that he was not using the internet from his home and that he was at an internet café. Sadly that’s how he got caught…

The internet cafe owner suspected that Waleed wasn't an ordinary client because he didn't play online billiards and look at pictures of girls. He grew even more suspicious when Waleed wouldn't let anyone come close and see what he was doing. (Statement from the owner of the internet cafe Mr. Ahmad Abu Asab)

So Mr. Asab used software that allowed him to check the websites that his clients were using. Low and behold he found the Facebook page “Allah”. Mr. Asab stated that only he and three other people knew of his finding and that “maybe somebody informed the authorities”
Then of course being the good guy he is, Mr. Asab kept copies of the pages and the Palestinian authorities downloaded the material. The next day they arrested Waleed.

He has been detained by Palestinian authorities since end of October. Palestinian human rights groups have remained silent. The Facebook pages have been deleted, but the blog remains. Atheists around the world should be told. We should defend him with what little we can. His story must reach every corner of the world!

Please help.
Free his free mind.
Free Waleed...

Source: International Herald Tribune: A blasphemous blog enrages Muslims

The Nightingale and the Rose

'Be happy,' cried the Nightingale, 'be happy; you shall have your red rose. I will build it out of music by moonlight, and stain it with my own heart's-blood. All that I ask of you in return is that you will be a true lover, for Love is wiser than Philosophy, though she is wise, and mightier than Power, though he is mighty. Flame-coloured are his wings, and coloured like flame is his body. His lips are sweet as honey, and his breath is like frankincense.'


Guy gives girl red rose
Girl says rose will clash with her dress and actually she prefers jewels
Guy curses love and goes back to studying Metaphysics
The End

Caged

Caged birds of the world. I feel for you, I really do.
What do you think would happen if all those doors were opened?
Would the birds remain stood on their perches? Would they stay in their cages and endure, singing or chattering contentedly for the rest of their days?
I think not...

Keeping a bird in a cage for human amusement is fundamentally wrong. This goes for humans too, except humans don't require a physical cage do they?

Why not break free from your emotional and sociological constraints? Walk out into the night, through the gate and embrace the jungle before you, while the full moon stands proud. You have a choice... unlike those truly imprisoned.

Stuck

So here we are, Back to square one...
nothing really changed,
Not much difference... Syria is coming back to conquer again, the people are so worried aboiut pointless things, that the big picture is forgotten...
Lebanon is Stuck, Many are trying to make a difference i agree...
But!
How will they move Such a BIG boulder...
I am pessimistic to be honest... I'm beginning to really Lose hope in this system ...
Completely

Disgusting Politics

It’s amazing what we Lebanese perceive as politics... WE Adore liars, protect them and work for them...
You see, it starts off with a favor, but that favor is never really free, is it...
It wouldn’t be long before you find yourself weak, fragile, and unable to speak your mind, biting your lip for so many...
But in a country that’s based on “wasta” connections... what are we to do?
Lay down and just take it ? ...

A house that isn't yours...

What do we want?
What exactly do you need? Food? Education , Medical? , Do you want to live in a nation where you are safe?
Are you not Tired?
Are you really Relaxed and Happy?
If you are walking down the streets in Beirut or any other city in Lebanon, Can you honestly say that the families that live in these houses around you are happy, Are really Really happy?
You fight for people that don’t know you, while your son looks at you wondering when will be the next meal...
Are You not tired?
Really?
I see new buildings built to house, houses not homes... I see a fake smile in every child, a made up feel of security, A country that’s made for visitors but not its own people...
Imagine living in a house made only to welcome outsiders, where your bed is made of thorns, and your drinking water is acid, you brush your teeth with a saw, and sell your soul every time you get out your room to pleasure those visitors and actually get to join them in the living room, where they flourish and get all the best ...but in the end of the day you go back to your room,
You’ve spent most of your money in the living room, you are alone again.... on your bed of thorns... drinking the same acidic water...
Living in a house that isn't yours...

The Gods

Why is it that our system is dependent on who you know?
We bend down like dogs and ask for help from those who are rich and powerful!, those who are the embodiment of religion, We defend them as we would defend our own parents, and to a certain extent, we would side by them against our parents....
Why? Who are these people? They are the modern age deities... they are simply gods...
We fight in their name, we kill for them, and we defend their pictures! And cling on to their every word!
Face it ... Lebanese Worship those “Leaders” ... From now on... I’ll refer to them as the gods, a much suitable name...
Think about it... and you’ll see exactly what I mean...
Don’t Worship the Gods ... for they will only bring pain and misery...

We Start Now

So, what now?

After all the wars that we went through, after all the crap and all the killing that we took part in weather we liked it or not , weather we had a choice or even knew about it.

We all are to blame, even the ones that are trying to make a difference, every one...

We saw it happen and we did nothing, I too am guilty of this, but what can we do? Seriously!
What can we exactly do to change? The sad reality is that the system is so corrupt at this stage, changing it is almost impossible, Almost a lost cause.

...who are you? A Question that murdered thousands...

It’s about time we answer Lebanese, and nothing more, neither religion nor heritage...

We start now...