Judge in 'Zombie Muhammad' case is relocated after threats, criticism of ruling

[rug]

Published: Tuesday, February 28, 2012, 2:40 PM
Updated: Tuesday, February 28, 2012, 3:05 PM
By MATTHEW KEMENY, The Patriot-News The Patriot-News

Mechanicsburg District Judge Mark Martin and his staff temporarily relocated to the Cumberland County Courthouse in Carlisle today due to threats his office has received and public criticism of his ruling in the "Zombie Muhammad" case. The county courthouse will make it easier to provide extra security.

For security reasons, Martin did not want to say how long he will be in the county courthouse, but noted his staff will be understanding to those impacted by the change. He said his office received more than 200 phone calls and emails from being criticizing his December ruling.

In addition, some online posts suggested he should be executed, Martin said.

Martin dismissed a harassment charge against 46-year-old Talaag Elbayomy, a Muslim accused of attacking Ernest Perce V, an atheist dressed as what he said was the "Zombie Muhammad" at a Halloween parade in Mechanicsburg last year.

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/02/judge_in_zombie_muhammad_case.html

[Leontius]

1. Seems awful quiet I wonder where they are.

[dmallind]

2. Threats from whom?

[rug]

3. I doubt it was Muslims.

"He said his office received more than 200 phone calls and emails from being criticizing his December ruling.

"In addition, some online posts suggested he should be executed, Martin said."

Who is most likely to be pissed off?

[2ndAmForComputers]

5. Links or it didn't happen.

[rug]

6. It's in the OP.

Internet cliches are in aisle 7.

[2ndAmForComputers]

7. There's nothing but the judge itself saying it. I smell Backwards B.

[laconicsax]

10. That doesn't even meet Wikipedia's standards.

"Some" online posts? Where?

[rug]

11. Clicking links is such hard work.

"You can reach me at [e-mail]"

[2ndAmForComputers]

13. So we should personally ask the reporter for the links by e-mail.

Not. He wrote very clearly, if succinctly, that these were allegations by the judge.

There's no "there" there. If there were, you would have posted it already.

Backwards goddamn B.

[dmallind]

12. People who don't like judges favoring Muslims? Lots of Islamophobes.

And claiming to be one, on tape, in court - even if he changed his story later.

[Fumesucker]

14. Judges are supposed to be impartial..

That means they do not favor anyone at all, including Muslims.

[dmallind]

16. SUPPOSED to be. Clearly he does favor Muslims. Over atheists at least.

[Fumesucker]

17. You gave the impression it was Islamophobic to not agree with favoring Muslims..

At least to me.

[dmallind]

20. No - not my intent at any rate. Can't see that either, but gotcha.

[Humanist_Activist]

4. Criticism is appropriate, threats are not...

I hope that they catch the ones who issued threats and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.

[2ndAmForComputers]

8. There are NO posts with death threats, only the word of the judge.

Backwards B.

[Humanist_Activist]

9. Certainly possible...

Perhaps I should have clarified, IF such threats were made, those who made them should be investigated and if warranted, prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

[Fumesucker]

15. So threats are bad, actual assault OK?

The Muslim assaulted the atheist and it was the atheist who got punished by a tongue lashing from the judge.

[Humanist_Activist]

18. False dichotomy, the Judge made a bad decision, that doesn't warrant threats against him...

he should be thrown from the bench.

[Fumesucker]

19. Just pointing out the random and capricious nature of "justice"..

America is replete with examples of such randomness and capriciousness.