Duhok bishop faces legal complaint over Facebook post on Islam

18-02-2023
Rudaw
A+ A-
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A bishop in Duhok is facing a legal complaint over a Facebook comment that was insulting to Islam. The bishop has apologized and said he was not responsible for the post. 

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.
 

Comments

Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.

To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.

We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.

Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.

Post a comment

Required
Required
 

The Latest

Candidates debating drug use during Rudaw's Chwar Bazne (four zones). Photo: Rudaw

Kurdistan parliament candidates warn against surging drug use

Parliament candidates addressed a rising trend in the use of recreational drugs in the Kurdistan Region during a Rudaw program, tracing the increase to a lack of comprehensive strategy along with limited social and economic opportunities.