Pro-Muslim judge denies free speech to critic of Islam  -- in America   

Every once-in-a-while a story emerges that distinguishes itself as too-good-to-be-true, but somehow — the facts seem to check out. Last October, TheBlaze reported on one of these uniquely bizarre stories when we brought you the details surrounding “Zombie Muhammad,” an atheist activist who was purportedly attacked by a Muslim during a Halloween parade in Pennsylvania.

While the assault was surprising enough in itself, the court battle that followed was equally unusual (it ended up being dismissed under curious circumstances). The crime was carried out by Talaag Elbayomy, a Muslim immigrant. According to numerous media accounts, the defendant didn‘t know that it’s perfectly legal to insult the prophet in America, so when he saw Ernest Perce V dressed in his Zombie Muhammad costume, he allegedly attempted to physically stop the presentation of anti-Islamic sentiment.

After Perce notified a police officer about what unfolded, the situation intensified. Charges were brought before Cumberland County Magisterial District Judge Mark Martin but, despite an admission at the scene of the crime by Elbayomy that he had grabbed Perce’s sign and pulled his beard, the judge inevitably dismissed the charges for lack of admissible evidence.

The dismissal, itself, angered some onlookers, but the bigger issue seemed to be Martin’s courtroom rebuke of Perce. In handling the case, the judge spoke out against the atheist, telling him that he was wrong for insulting Muslims and, at one point, likening him to a “doofus.”

“What you have done is you have completely trashed their essence, their being. They find it very very very offensive,” Martin told Perce. “If I were a Muslim, I’d find it offensive. But you have that right, but you’re way outside your bounds or first amendment rights.”

Many saw these comments and the dismissal of the case as evidence that sharia (Islamic law) had crept its way into the courtroom. As a result of supposedly questionable details surrounding the dismissal, on September 10, The Legal Project, part of the Middle East Forum, filed a formal request for an investigation into Martin and his alleged judicial misconduct.

In the document that was submitted to the judicial conduct board, the group, on behalf of Perce, called for the judge’s removal from the bench. While Martin has apparently already been reprimanded privately by the Pennsylvania Judicial Conduct Board, the group that oversees judicial action considers the case closed.

The arresting officer, Police Sgt. Brian Curtis, though, was less than content with Martin’s explanation — and his ruling.

“I believe that I brought a case that showed proof beyond reasonable doubt, and the case was dismissed, and I was disappointed,” he said.

For now, Nunberg and Perce will avait a final determination, although there is a chance the board may simply ignore The Legal Project’s grievance.

Source