India: professor charged with blasphemy against Islam is acquitted
November 15, 2013
A Christian professor in India who was accused of blasphemy against Islam and subsequently mutilated by Muslim extremists has been cleared of all charges.
T. J. Joseph, a professor at Newman College in the state of Kerela, had been accused of insulting the prophet Mohammed by giving his students a test in which they were asked to assess a fictional character with that name. Shortly after the blasphemy charge was leveled against him, he was assaulted by a group of Muslim zealots who severed his right hand. Later, Newman College fired him.
Now a court in Kerela has acquitted Joseph of the charges, adding that the brutal attack on him was ‘one of the darkest pages in Kerela’s recent history.” Newman College, reversing its previous position, has offered the professor his old job.
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Further information:
- TJ Joseph, Christian teacher accused of blasphemy (and mutilated) is fully acquitted (AsiaNews)
- India: Muslim vigilantes punish professor for 'blasphemy' by severing his arm (CWN, 7/5/10)
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