From Judge Paul Maloney's decision Friday in Al Qassimi Academy v. Abuhaltam (W.D. Mich.):
[Plaintiff] Al Qassimi Academy is an educational and religious institution serving the Muslim Arabic community in Israel. [Plaintiff] Abd Al-Raof Al-Qawasmi is a director and trustee on the Board of the Academy. He is also a member of the clergy in the Islamic community. Defendant resides in Okemos, Michigan. Using Facebook and other social media platforms, Defendant insults and mocks the Academy, its leaders and its faculty members.
Plaintiffs contend [in paragraph 41 of the Complaint that] Defendant has made the following [defamatory statements]:
[A.] calls for riots and violence against Al-Qasemi Academy and Al-Qasemi institutions.
[B.] using fighting words and inciting violence against the Plaintiff's Board members, educational staff, and their families, and thereby endangering their lives.
[C.] Defendant Abuhaltam uses computer graphic techniques such as Photoshop or other similar software tools to create images and/or change the shapes to mock, insult, defame, and slander the Plaintiff and its members.
[D]. Defendant Abuhaltam accuses Plaintiff and its members as "agents" and "proxies" of the government of Israel, thereby endangering their lives and property….
[F.] Defendant Abuhaltam posts slanderous and defamatory cartoon images of the Plaintiff's leaders and its members as "pigs" and other "pig-like" images. Pigs are considered by Muslims as vile, derogatory, disparaging, and filthy. Being depicted as pigs is the equivalent of an accusation of being heathens and disbelievers.
