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Shocked residents find anti-Islamic pamphlets on their car windscreens(Gulf News Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)Dubai: Anti-Islamic pamphlets were discovered on car windscreens in Bur Dubai yesterday morning. The pamphlet, in comic-strip format, was a photocopy of a booklet published by an American organisation whose website, www.chick.com, is dedicated to evangelists who preach the gospel. Residents were deeply upset when they found the 12-page pamphlet attacking Islam and preaching Christianity while leaving for work at around 6.30am. They live near the souq opposite Dubai museum and suspect the pamphlets were put there during the night. Dubai police have said they will investigate the matter. Preaching faiths other than Islam is a criminal offence, according to UAE law. Those found guilty of preaching against Islam face jail sentences of up to five to ten years followed by deportation, according to the UAE penal code. Sensitive issue Discussing faith is a sensitive issue and this also applies to Islamic preachers, according to lawyer Mohammad Al Shaiba. Anyone who wishes to do so has to gain approval from the Dubai Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities, and cannot do it independently. Distributing pamphlets without a licence is also an illegal offence, and is punishable by courts. Those guilty can be jailed for a maximum period of three years. Jamal Q., a resident, told Gulf News he was "shocked" when he saw the pamphlets. "I was walking to my car in the morning when I saw at least 20 cars in the parking spaces with the same paper stuck to the windscreen. I was shocked when I saw it because these things are not allowed in this country," he said. The comic book tells the tale of a conversation between a Muslim and a Christian man discussing the difference between the two religions, and ends with the Muslim converting to Christianity and denouncing his faith. In the course of the conversation, the "Christian" man insults Islam, describing Muslims as "moon worshippers" and claims that Islam is a fake religion. The "Muslim" meanwhile insists that the "Islamic flag" will fly over the White House by the year 2010. Muslims will kill all "infidels" then, the book says. The US Embassy refused to comment, saying the issue had nothing to do with them and was a controversial topic. |