May 4496
Controversial shaman faces prosecution under blasphemy laws
Aldrkai Skronores, the colourful shaman from Noorddam City who outraged Ahmadis by putting up a giant phallus statue in his temple garden, in full view of the local mosque has again dipped his toes in hot water by erecting a black Hosianmas Tree, which local evangelical Hosians insist is "Satanailic" and an insult to Hosian beliefs and traditions.
Black Hosianmas Tree
Giant phallus statue
Things have now become more serious for Skronores because two powerful and well-funded organisations, the Evangelical Hosian Council and the Ahmadi Council of Vanuku, have teamed together to launch a prosecution case against him for blasphemy.
Under Vanuku's religious laws, both Hosianism and Ahmadism are granted the status of legally "recognised religions" and are legally protected from "blasphemy".
The Society for Shamanic Practice is assisting Skronores with his legal costs, and has condemned the prosecution attempt as "religious persecution against the small and vulnerable minority of us who follow shamanism".
However, Imam Mubák Shakír, who speaheaded the original complaints against the giant phallus statue, has branded Skronores and the Society for Shamanic Practice as "despicable troublemakers and blasphemers who have no respect for true religious feeling, and whose nonsense has got to be put a stop to".
Husn Vrkz-Krlmék, leader of the opposition Ahmadi Alliance, has supported the prosecution, commenting "this is the first test of whether the courts are willing to take our blasphemy laws seriously" and "if this blaspheming fiend can get away with this, then it will fundamentally undermine the fabric of society and show that anyone can get away with anything in Vanuku because nothing is sacred".