Cartoons and Effigies: free speech under attack
AFP © Enlarge photo
All across the Muslim world, protests are being staged, and I openly encourage them to exercise that right.
Go out and protest! Go and chant in the streets! Burn American flags and effigies of Obama! Holler “DEATH TO THE USA” at the top of your voice until your lungs run dry.
But do not - and I urge this strongly - open fire with a submachine gun on a KFC restaurant, or strap a bomb to your chest in an act of disgraceful suicide-murder, or kill American diplomats with little disregard for the implications, and do not firebomb the offices of newspapers that don’t share your worldview.
Shall I go on? Because I can.
Do not murder filmmakers with knives, or provide a financial reward for the death of a novelist, and do not run translators down in the street over a book you will never read. Do not extradite, without due process, bloggers and journalists to nations that hold apostasy as punishable by death, and do not torch embassies, whether they are on your sovereign territory or not.
Of course, the irony is painful and obvious: protest on the scale seen across the Middle East currently would never be allowed against the government or the powers-that-be. These same governments will no doubt stand aside when violent offenders ought to be caught and charged.
Islam is the binding factor here, and is fast becoming a threatening catalyst for more violent action. Sydney’s Islamic leaders are setting a fantastic standard in quelling anger (their New Zealand counterparts too), and their example should be repeated.
While we must protect every man’s right to protest and voice his opinions, we must repel and condemn any acts of violence with equal conviction.
Just as I would gladly publish a satirical cartoon of Jesus, or Mohammed, I would equally enforce the right for a Muslim to ridicule Einstein, Orwell, or Kant.
But, universally and ultimately, what is true for the recently-liberated everyman in Libya, is also true for me here in Auckland, as a writer with a reasonably visible platform, who insists on attacking the actions of those in positions of influence or power (see here, here, here, here, and here).
Would I consider ever refraining from an attack? Possibly – if life or limb were at risk for no ostensible purpose, but certainly not because feelings were bound to be hurt. But I must stress, time and time again, it is not my responsibility if someone is harmed.
This may seem callous on the surface, but it’s a fundamental principle of responsibility, as the editor of a French newspaper said this week: "It is like saying a woman who has been raped is to blame because she wore a mini-skirt," he said.
"We are provocateurs, we are wearing a mini-skirt. But who is guilty: the person in the mini-skirt or the rapist?"- < Previous
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157 Comments
kevin, thanks for your suggestions. I've seen some of them actually and currently i just wanna comment on last title that you've suggested as its too much for to comment all those related in a row. There are several videos about that title I've come across some of them. whichever videos that they said the truth about islam, yet relating the brutal beatings and rape to Islam, it's totally different from Islamic teaching. In Islam, adultery is prohibited and of course those who forcefully do that on women(rape), deserve more punishment. In sharia law, there is 'qisas' where it's also related to any injuries that one make on others. In quran, there is verse that tell us that God has ordered the Children of Israel to practice qisas including those who are injured intentionally by others have right to claim onto those injured others. However, giving forgiveness is highly encouraged.[you can check here ; Al Maa-idah:45]. THis verse did really tell us that causing injuries or pain with wrong intentions is wrong except for certain cases in punishment by fixed law. One more, I suggest you to watch also the videos about why people accepting Islam. It is slightly unfair i think if you're just watching the videos from one side that disagree with Islam. In fact, in NZ the number of women converting to Islam are almost double of the number of men accepting Islam.
ReplyYou Tube............. Second round with Islam !
ReplyAlif, look on you tube... and type in the following five titles. What is Sharia Law of Islam and the Mulsim? Interview: Muslim Cleric in Favor of Sharia Law Plans WH Protest Islamic militants terrorise Met police US flag burned outside US embassy Truth about islam from an ex-muslim lady
ReplyAlif, it is always good to talk to someone and hear their opinion, their side of the story, as no one can always be right 100%. I’m sure too that we sometimes only hear distorted versions of the truth, and that is unfortunate. Also, it is a fact that we only see the worst of things, else it wouldn’t be news (news sells papers). However Alif, even if we take all of this into account, we still cannot ignore the trouble that followers of Islam have created for us all. I couldn’t even begin to list everything, but examples being hijacking planes and using them for bombs. Trying to blow up passenger planes, Trains, Shopping Malls… etc. Now you would have to agree that these people are terrorists, by the very definition right? But these same people are guided by Islamic leaders, who quote scripture from the Qur’an in a bid to justify what they do. Also, take a look on You Tube at all the riots in the streets of England, Australia, US, in fact all over the world, where Muslims are turning violent for their cause. Yes, there are Muslims who have good hearts, and I’m sure than no one can disagree. But those same people are affiliated by faith, to the many thousands who are quick to violence, dogmatic in their own belief that they have divine rights, intolerant of others… We would all like to find a solution I’m sure, but I fear that the division is too great for truly lateral understanding to take place, or acceptance by either side of the other. How many times now (UK) have we seen cases where Muslims have been offended by things that we take as a daily part of our lives. They seed themselves in a country which has mainly Christian values, then complain and “riot” when they cant get things their own way. Including trying to implement their own laws (Sharia), which is basically an affront to human rights (mainly women…. Surprise surprise!) It is unfortunate that such a distinction exists between so many Muslims, in the way they feel they should act, or conduct themselves. But the truth is, Islam has caused the world so much trouble through the actions of its disciples, that the meek voices of those who would argue that it is a religion of peace, are drowned out by those who would seek to destroy and kill in a bid to force their ways on others.
Replydefinitely, i'm saying again, i don't have rights to tell others what to do. It's up to them to be a people who insult others, hurting others' hearts, or a respectful person. Just one advice, get the information from the authentic sources. You may found that whoever punish women in such barbaric ways, are not practicing Islam in that kind of act. And same goes to who manipulate women in advertising(half naked women beside the car and in many other advertisements). For us, that manipulation of women or that kind of punish at all. By the way, i'm glad to discuss with you in this thread and i really hope that there would be always calmness especially in this kind of discussion. Rasulullah [Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: "Amongst the most perfect of Mu'mins in Imaan is he who is best character and amongst the best of them is he who kindest towards his wife."
Reply