Amnesty International is urging the Lebanese authorities to respect the right to freedom of expression and drop charges of 'insulting' Islam lodged against
popular
Lebanese musician Marcel Khalife.
Marcel Khalife is scheduled to appear before the Beirut Court of First Instance on 3 November 1999. The blasphemy charge relates to a song based on a
poem by
the renowned Palestinian poet Mahmud Darwish, called "I am Yusuf" which is inspired by the story of Yusuf (Joseph) and his brothers which quotes a
verse from
the Qur'an.
According to the Lebanese Penal Code, blasphemy is punishable by three to six years' imprisonment. Some 50 lawyers have volunteered to defend the
musician and
thousands of people and organizations, including the Lebanese Bar Association, have signed petitions calling for legal proceedings against Marcel Khalife
to be
dropped.
Amnesty International believes that bringing Marcel Khalife to trial is a gross infringement of his right to freedom of expression and a violation of the
International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which Lebanon is a state party as well as the Lebanese Constitution which guarantees freedom of
opinion.
"This is the second time in three years that Marcel Khalife has been accused of blaspheming Islam for singing the same song," Amnesty International
said. "The
Lebanese government must uphold freedom of expression and allow Mr Khalife to exercise, freely and without fear, his right to freedom of expression
and opinion."
