Blasphemous Retch

In the vast colonnaded courtyard of the Kaaba, in the heart of holy Mecca, sweating thousands of Moslem pilgrims waited their turn before the Black Stone, a gift of the Angel Gabriel to Abraham. One after another, the poor and diseased poked their heads through the opening in the rich, black drape to kiss the worn stone, rub their eyes against its holy polished surface. The rich mostly stood back, holding their palms toward the Kaaba as toward a fire and rubbing their faces.

Suddenly angry cries and fierce gesticulations broke out beside the sacred stone. Horrified pilgrims saw vomit on the Kaaba; a sick Moslem from Persia had swayed too much in the trance. Lean and clutching fingers sought to rend the offender, but the police were too quick. Two hours later the prisoner had been properly tried, found guilty of blasphemy and beheaded. Custom requires hoisting a culprit's head for all to see and heed.

When word got back to Teheran, the Shah of Persia protested, demanded indemnity. Retorted King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia: Koranic law prescribes cutting off a thief's hand; surely it requires cutting off a blasphemer's head.

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