BELARUS (Reuters) - Belarus on Friday jailed for three years an editor of an independent newspaper who reproduced cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad that first appeared in Denmark in 2005 and caused mass demonstrations across the Muslim world.
(...)
Belarussian authorities shut down the "Zgoda" (Consensus) paper in March 2006, around the time when other European journals began reprinting the cartoons. The security service, still known by its Soviet-era name, the KGB, began an investigation after Muslims in the ex-Soviet state complained.
Editor Alexander Sdvizhkov was sentenced to three years in jail in a closed session of the court for incitement of religious and national hatred.
"May God and the holy cross be with us," Sdvizhkov said afterwards. His lawyer said she would appeal.
Three years for republishing cartoons. Isn't that a bit extreme?
The Evil Empire lives. Like Hell the Cold War is over. Like Hell!
