First Friday thread of the year, and it's a cracker

Man fined 210 Swiss francs for saying 'Allahu akbar'

Does that mean that every time someone says "Goodbye" there'll be a backlash because it is short for "God be with ye (you)"?

I've lost count of the number of times I've barked out "Jesus H Christ" (sometimes with an additional "effing" depending on how much it hurt) in exasperation over something.

Police officer was a bit overzealous unless, of course, there is much much more to the story than is scantily reported by the good old Local...

To be fair, I'd probably arrest someone who shouted "Praise the Lord!" for no apparent reason too.

Oh Lordy lord

For anyone thinking the fine is silly, I would recommend to say it loudly in a public place with many people to greet a friend and see how people react.

The Local's article seems to be based on one from Blick, with nothing additional added and very little left out.

The only detail missing in the Local's version as far as I can see is that the arrest was made by an off duty police woman, who called up reinforcements before making the arrest.

How many police officers does it usually take to challenge a single person who is not violent and not being uncooperative?

It all sounds a bit absurd and over the top to me.

In a newer development, an organisation called "people of colour" has said they are taking this incident to court.

So bring out the popcorn.

So you can lawfully deny the Holocaust and use a swastika flag as long as it doesn't happen in a context that instills hate, but you can't greet the friends you meet in front of a Turkish club with "Allahu akhbar".


Actually, nothing's said about on or off duty. Both 20min and Blick just say she wasn't in uniform, "in zivil".

I get the feeling that if they're using it as a greeting in public they're doing so to get a giggle out of it, saying something they know can get the publics attention with but can explain away as a bit of innocent phrasing.
I've not heard it used as a greeting amongst the Muslims I’ve met, of course that doesn't mean it's not used, but the professor in the article seems to think likewise.

I think the context of it's use is what the police picked up on, but does it turn into the polices word against the mans?

He didn't dispute what he said. And by paying the fine it became final.


But yes, she would have to understand Arabic (or Turkish?) in order to determine the context.

I am a turkish and in my life, i have never ever heard, people greet each other by saying Allahu akbar.

First of all, In turkish its Allah’u ekber. In arabic means, Allah (al-ilah, the God) is only great.

Secondly, as muslims, we say “salamun aleikum” (in turkish selamun aleyküm). Means: Peace be unto you ans as answer: aleikum salam (in turkish aleyküm selam), means “and unto you peace”

If true/accurate, absolutely absurd - like elsewhere fear & ignorance winning

It sells though, doesn't it? Media bosses know dog-whistle stuff gets the clicks and shares. Who cares if they leave off plausible details which either make it less newsworthy or fill in gaps?

My neighbour's Austrian. We always say "Gruss Gott" Get out the 'swear tin'.

Imagine if some Christians would have bombed themselves (and plenty of innocent) in the Arab/Muslim world. Like dozens, if not hundreds of times.

Crying "Allmächtiger Gott" / "Almighty God" just before they did that. (Almost) each and every of them.

Guess what would happen to some white, "christian" looking guy if he shout now "Almighty God" around, somewhere in (Saudi) Arabia. Hint: He won't life much longer..

If words HAVE BECOME negatively, even if they originally were nothing bad, they're best not used. That's common sense, in my opinion.

Isn't that why they launch attacks from a good distance away, i.e. from battleships and fighter planes?

I don't think we should compare our moral or legal standards with those of Saudi Arabia.

Seems such a weird article. The fact he used Allahu Akbar as a greeting which is weird in itself, and the fact he got a fine for saying it.

Shouldn't have said it, but shouldn't have gotten fined.

It's such a typically Swiss story though, love it.

Apparently, Allah has never heard of Cassius Clay:



Tom

Well, in the US he would have probably ended up in the morgue or hospital..

It's not a traditional muslim greeting (as others have written) but is something that suicide bombers or mass-shooters of the Islamic fanatic kind tend to say before reaping carnage.

I'd hazard a guess that the lad and his mates were winding the Police lady up and a fine is the modern way of dealing with this rather than a clip around the ear with a Policeman's hand.