Cablegate: Bahrain Charges U.S. Teacher with Insulting Prophet

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV OPRC KIRF KPAO BA

SUBJECT: Bahrain charges U.S. teacher with insulting Prophet
Mohammed

1. (SBU) Summary: This cable provides background on the case of a
teacher at a local U.S. university charged with insulting the
Prophet Mohammed. This case originally surfaced in the
Arabic-language press approximately three months ago and has now
been picked up by the international media. The teacher is no
longer in Bahrain. Bahraini law protects all religions from
defamation. End summary.

2. (SBU) Sometime in June, a teacher at the New York Institute of
Technology's Bahrain campus used a doll as a prop to lead a
discussion on religious tolerance. Some students objected to the
characterization of Mohammed and reported the teacher to the school
authorities. After an intervention by the Ministry of Education,
the teacher apologized. Another student then claimed that the
teacher further insulted her and would not accept the apology. The
teacher departed the island in July and eventually the case made its
way to the Public Prosecution.

3. (SBU) The Public Prosecution completed its investigation in early
September and referred the case to a judge. The judge has scheduled
a hearing for 9 October in the lower criminal court. The judge can
pronounce a sentence in absentia at that time if the Public
Prosecutor has served a summons to the accused. Alternately, the
judge may defer the hearing in order for the accused to be notified
either via publishing the summons in the official gazette or by
having the local police deliver the summons to appear. A close
Embassy contact at the Public Prosecution explained to the consular
officer that according to Bahraini law, it is a crime to blaspheme
or otherwise insult any religion. Ramadan and the current financial
crises have overshadowed this case as there has been no further
reporting since last Friday, except for in the international press.

4. (SBU) Comment: With the accused no longer in Bahrain, a guilty
verdict will have little immediate effect. The teacher would likely
be barred from returning to Bahrain and could be subject to a fine
and/or jail time if she did attempt to re-enter the country
following a guilty verdict. Post has not had any contact with the
accused.

Henzel

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