Two weeks ago, a post appeared on the Facebook page of Bishop Bahzad Mziri of the Anabaptist Church in Duhok. The post made comments about Mohammed, the Prophet of Islam, that were considered insulting and derogatory and stirred up public ire.
Duhok’s Directorate of Endowment and Religious Affairs and the public prosecutor intend to take the bishop to court.
"We are determined to file a complaint tomorrow morning against this man,” Mohammed Khalid, general director of the endowment directorate told Rudaw on Saturday. Their complaint will assert that Bishop Mziri “disrespected Islam and the Prophet of Islam.”
Khalid’s office has informed the Ministry of Endowment and Religious Affairs, which, he said, had spoken to the person at the ministry in charge of Christian affairs, securing their support. “Many priests and bishops are also set to be present on Sunday at Duhok's court,” he said.
Bishop Mziri has apologized. He posted a statement on Facebook in which he said his account had been “hacked” and someone else commented in his name.
The bishop told Rudaw's Nasir Ali on Saturday that someone who is an admin of his account had posted the comment without his approval. He also said that he is currently in Jordan and is ready to go in front the judge when he is back in the country.
Mziri added that he has been involved in many acts promoting religious tolerance in Duhok and he is not ready to destroy the city's coexistence.
Despite Mziri’s apology, Khalid of the endowment directorate said they will proceed with the court case.
