Civil rights attorneys are clearly divided on this issue. While those who are for it claim that it’s not unconstitutional because they’re not requiring her to attend Muslim services or participate in a religion, those who are against it are saying Daisy Obi is entitled to her own religious beliefs and forcing her to attend a class on Islam runs contradictory to the freedom of religion that liberals seems to be talking about a lot in recent days.
The Supreme Judicial Court will hear arguments next month in a case that poses interesting legal questions at a time when the country is grappling with anti-Muslim backlash following deadly attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California, both allegedly carried out by radical Muslims.
The case centers on Daisy Obi, a 73-year-old ordained minister from Nigeria who is the pastor of the Adonai Bible Center in Somerville, just north of Boston. In April 2012, Obi rented an apartment in her multi-family home to Gihan Suliman, her husband and five young children.
Suliman complained about the heat and electricity not always working, while Obi complained Suliman appeared to have 12 to 15 people living in the apartment at one point.
Suliman testified that about a month after she moved in, Obi stood on the stairs outside Suliman’s apartment screaming anti-Muslim insults.
The following month, while Suliman was taking her baby out of the car, she said Obi yelled anti-Muslim sentiments at her other children.
Then, about a month later, Suliman said Obi accused her of ringing her doorbell, shouted at her and pushed her. Suliman said she fell backward down 15 to 20 stairs, hitting her face on the banister, cutting her lip and tearing a ligament in her shoulder.
While sentencing Obi last year, Judge Paul Yee Jr. called Obi “the landlord from hell” after pointing out that she had harassment prevention orders issued against her by two other tenants.
He sentenced her to two years in jail on the assault and battery charge for pushing Suliman but required her to serve only six months, with the remaining 18 months suspended if she complied with certain probation conditions.
“I want you to learn about the Muslim faith,” he said. “I want you to enroll and attend an introductory course on Islam.
“I do want you to understand people of the Muslim faith, and they need to be respected. They may worship Allah … but they need to be respected.”
Obi vehemently denied making any anti-Muslim statements to Suliman or pushing her. She testified she was inside her apartment praying when she heard a knock at the door from the police, who arrested her.
Obi said in a phone interview that she believes Suliman had a vendetta against her because she refused to allow her to let more people live in her apartment.
“I’ve never, ever made a rude remark against her,” she said.
“Why would I do that? I have three Muslims living in the house now.”
Obi also said she believes Suliman hates her because she is a Christian.
Suliman did not respond to messages left at her home and workplace.
Obi’s lawyer argues the probation condition that she learn about the Muslim faith “burdens Dr. Obi’s free exercise of religion.”
Because of the sympathy liberal America and the media seems to have for those practice Islam, this case isn’t getting the investigating it deserves. Yes, not all Muslims are terrorists, but most terrorists are Muslims. That being said if the freedom of religious practice argument was removed from the liberal talking points, nobody would really have anything else to say on the issue.
Americans are open to conversation, but after pouring through news articles since the Paris attacks, I’ve yet to come across a legitimate reason for people not to fear Islam. And let’s talk about Daisy Obi. Many of the facts here just don’t add up.
How could a 73-year-old woman push somebody who is obviously in better shape than she is down a set of stairs that happened to be behind her without falling down with her. And if she really hated Suliman that much, she could have just evicted her.
This case isn’t getting the logic it deserves. As for the judge, this is clearly unconstitutional. If the shoe were on the other foot, Suliman would get nothing more than a slap on the wrist. And if she were forced to sit through a class on Christianity, the liberal media would be having a field day. The court is scheduled to hear the arguments on January 8.
Source: pamelgeller.com
Source: boston.cbslocal.com
Source: bostonherald.com
Because separation of church and state?
That’s bs can’t make someone go against Thier beliefs
Noooo!!!!!
I’m sorry I thought this was America, since when can a judge or anyone dictate anything to anyone? I would tell her to shove it and sit in jail.
No. She can’t order that.