"islam" news and stories

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When a Malaysian night club was busted and 32-year-old Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno was caught with a beer, she knew she was in trouble. Not because alcohol is illegal in the country -- it's not -- but because Kartika is a Muslim.

Under Sharia law -- which regulates the day-to-day life of Muslims, including politics, business, sexuality and hygiene -- consuming alcohol is a major offense. Though non-Muslim in Malaysia would be prosecuted under civil law, Kartika had to face Islamic courts.

"I accept the punishment," she said, according to a Daily Telegraph report. "I am not afraid because I was ready to be punished from day one. [The authorities] hope to use my case as a way to educate Muslims. So go ahead. I want to move on with my life."

The confectioners' union in Iran ordered the change of the name of a popular breakfast pastry from "Danish pastry" to "Rose of Muhammad", reports Yahoo! News. Bakeries across the country were ordered to cover up signs advertising Danishes and only refer to them by their new name. One bakery owner said "This is a punishment for those who started misusing freedom of expression to insult the sanctities of Islam" though because the name "Danish" is not trademarked and no one receives royalties from its use, it is unlikely that anyone (except confused customers) is actually feeling punished by this change. Danish companies are feeling the pinch as some countries boycott other Danish products, however. This renaming is reminiscent of the attempted change of "French fries" to "freedom fries" in the United States in 2003 - a change which stuck in newspaper headlines longer than it did on menu boards.

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