Les circonstances du « démenti » (si c’en est un ; il vient de la réceptionniste et non du juge) figurent dans cet autre article de Chelsea Hoffmann pour le blog Gather News du 24 février 2012. L’article est intitulé :

Is Judge Mark Martin Muslim ? Exclusive Quote Inside !

Judge Mark Martin was not available for comment on Wednesday of this week, or today (Friday). However, his receptionist who goes by the name Rita, was able to answer this simple yet important question.

Is Mark Martin a Muslim ?

No.

Rita answered the question exclusively for Gather News after just a small amount of coaxing. Magistrate judge Martin doesn’t want Rita to be too communicative regarding this increasingly high-profile issue and that is to be expected. She stuck her neck out to give this answer, but it was more than necessary when so many news outlets and blogs are reporting him as a Muslim judge.

If you can rely on the answer given by his receptionist, then it’s safe to say that this man is not a Muslim. However, it still feels that he took a biased stance regarding this case. He dismissed it and wouldn’t allow evidence to be submitted. Even the officer who charged the attacker, Talaag Elbayomy, says that the victim was well within his rights and that he was very disappointed with the judge’s decision.

His speech before dismissing the case and referring to the victim as a »doofus« was drenched with anti-American sentiments and religious pandering. He is quoted as saying :

Well, having had the benefit of having spent over two-and-a-half years in predominantly Muslim countries, I think I know a little bit about the faith of Islam. In fact, I have a copy of the Quran here, and I would challenge you, Sir, to show me where it says in the Quran that Muhammad arose and walked among the dead. I think you misinterpreted a couple of things. So before you start mocking somebody else’s religion, you might want to find out a little more about it. It kind of makes you look like a doofus. ...

In many other Muslim-speaking countries, err, excuse me, many Arabic-speaking countries, predominantly Muslim, something like this is definitely against the law there, in their society. In fact, it could be punished by death, and frequently is, in their society... (read here for the entire excerpt)

Judge Mark Martin may not be a Muslim, but it’s apparent that he values the feelings of Muslims more than the physical safety and Constitutional rights of Americans. »