In a surprise move, Mauritanian outgoing President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz summoned 40 judges, and discussed with them on Monday the release of Mohammed Sheikh Ould Mkhtair, the abuser of the Holy Prophet, who has been detained since 2014.
According to leaks, most jurists have accused the president that the abuser may be released to the Prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him - after his repentance is announced on television.
It was noteworthy that these scientists have previously demanded the execution of the offender, and rejected the verdict of the judiciary to release him after the declaration of his repentance before the Court of Appeal Nouadhibou in 2017.
The scholars then hold on to the doctrine of Imam Malik ibn Anas, which is that the zardaq is killed even if he repents.
Mauritania has witnessed in recent years mass demonstrations demanding the execution of the abuser of the Prophet's jinnab, and participated in these demonstrations politicians, scientists and lawyers.
In addition to the popular momentum, the movement of the prophetic victory has become official, with President Aziz himself committing the execution of Ould Makhtir.
Disappointment
The social networking sites reflect the disappointment of many, who believe that the government exploited the issue in its favor and gained supporters in the street, and eventually abandoned the slogans of prophetic victory.
Scientists have been criticized for refusing any way to release the abuser, and when the president changed, they sought weak words to pass his will.
The leaks indicate that the president asked the jurists to express their opinions and to sign and defend them on television, and then Imam Ahmado Ould Al-Morabit said that it is possible to adopt some of the likely statements and the release of Ould Makhtir.
Most jurists have expressed support for Ould Marabit's statement, while reports of the abuser's release are reported in the next few days.
It is noteworthy that Ould Mkhtayr wrote in 2014 an article describing the Prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him - unfairly, and accused of injustice marginalized groups.
Ould Mekhtière belongs to the "teachers" class who practice blacksmithing in Mauritania and some members complain of marginalization.
But the offending author was an employee of the country's most important company, while his father was governor of Nouadhibou, the economic capital of Mauritania.
The article provoked outrage in the country, followed by the offender to the judiciary, where the court of first instance sentenced to death on the basis of the most likely of the Maliki school.
But the degree of appeal dropped the death sentence in November 2017 and ordered him to be fined and imprisoned for only two years, according to the law that accepts the repentance of the heretical and the apostate alike.
Despite the expiration of the sentence, the government has refused in recent years to release the abuser who has been declared a repentant, fearing that this will lead to public anger that harms civil peace.
It seems that the outgoing Mauritanian president wanted to release him now, while the jurists did not mind the step they saw as a red line can not be overcome.