"He should be burned to death"

AP – In this Nov. 10, 2010 photo, Palestinian boys look at websites on the Internet in the West Bank city …

Those are the words that were given from Abdul-Latif Dahoud, a 35-year-old Qalqiliya resident, who was responding to the recent arrest of Walid Husayin, who was leading a double life --working for his father in his barber shop as a quite person who prayed with his family and, a man blogging anti-religious statements on the internet.

Over several years, Husayin is suspected of posting arguments in favor of atheism on English and Arabic blogs, where he described the God of Islam as having the attributes of a "primitive Bedouin." He called Islam a "blind faith that grows and takes over people's minds where there is irrationality and ignorance."

The article goes on to describe this man and his behavior. Apparently, he opened up some Facebook accounts and some groups that were blasphemous towards the prophet Mohamed.

His mother had discovered some articles on his computer that were about atheism and, cut off the internet connection. This move prompted him to take his rantings over to an internet cafe, where suspicion was aroused when he was witnessed spending up to 7 hours in a booth.

The article tries to paint this man as a total loon but, in America, these people are totally normal and put on tv, and given their own news shows--- see Keith Olbermann, Bill Maher, Rachael Maddow.

Then, this explosive statement:

The Western-backed Palestinian Authority is among the more religiously liberal Arab governments in the region. It is dominated by secular elites and has frequently cracked down on hardline Muslims and activists connected to its conservative Islamic rival, Hamas. 

Husayin's high public profile and prickly style, however, left authorities no choice but to take action.

They had NO choice but to take action? Did I just read that correctly? Are they admitting that liberals are intolerant? It sure sounds like it to me. Oh, this is just too much for me to even handle dissecting. I really don't even know where to begin...

First they are going to say that the Palestinian Authority is more liberal than other Arab governments? What planet is the author of this article from? Really? Really?!?! They refer to them as liberals but, to Hamas as conservatives? Then, have to audacity to say that they just had no choice to go after this man.

Wow.

So, then at the very end it says:

Zainab Rashid, a liberal Palestinian commentator, wrote in an online opinion piece that Husayin has made an important point: "that criticizing religious texts for their (intellectual) weakness can only be combatted by ... oppression, prison and execution."

It's very obvious to me that there is something clearly wrong with reporting a story like this and somehow trying to be "fair." There is no "fair" here. A man has been arrested and is facing imprisonment for life because, he spoke out against religion and, the AP is trying to be "fair"? As if there's some moral equivalency here? 

Click title of post to read the story for yourself.