Lately, I often wonder: when will the idiots of the world stop igniting fires just to test how fast the fire truck can come and extinguish them?
If there is one good thing that has come out of the recent disturbing events, it would be the dialogue opportunity among different cultures to redefine the term “freedom of expression” using input and contributions from all cultures involved.
One side of the divide defends the right of everyone to freely express their thoughts and feelings publicly without any limits, while the other side asks incredulously: “what has freedom of expression got to do with offending others’ religious beliefs?”
In reality, there is no absolute freedom anywhere in our world today.
If there are public decency laws in many liberal European countries to protect children from explicit material; laws against insulting the Queen in England; and laws against insulting Jews, gays, blacks, women and indigenous people, then it’s obvious that freedom of expression has limits, even in the “free” world, and that God and religions should not be any less respected than the Queen of England!
Freedom of Expression?
In the recent uproar against the cheap film attacking the Prophet of Islam, I blame a local Egyptian TV channel for an equal part of the responsibility of spreading that film. The film had already been online for two months with only 500 views, then in a few days after its public showing on that local channel, it got 30 million views!
As a Muslim, I don’t consider this showing of the film a manifestation of freedom of expression; I actually believe that those responsible for showing the film to enrage Muslim viewers are just as accountable as those who have produced it exactly for the same reason. Both are guilty of a hate crime and should be held accountable for it. Egypt has already detained the local presenter responsible; I’m waiting to see the same happen to the original producer in the US who was found to be guilty of financial and legal fraud, whose sponsor is training armed religious militias to prepare for a war with Muslims, and who has gone into hiding like the criminal he is.
I just read in a British newspaper that an ice cream company was banned from using an advert displaying a pregnant nun because it is offensive to followers of the Catholic faith. In reaction, the company has vowed to position similar posters right by Westminster Abbey in London in time for the Pope’s visit. As a Muslim, I don’t think this is an act of defiance against censorship; I see this as tasteless act of hate and support the banning of this advert and any other material that is meant to sell more products by offending someone from a different religion or ethnic background.
Starting a religious controversy to draw attention to a commercial product is too cheap and should also be a breach of business ethics not just freedom of expression. No one can get away using the same stunt on Jews, blacks, children or women, so why single out religion as the only target of attack? I would actually boycott their product for those reasons.
Bridge Building for Peace
Categories: Africa, Egypt, Free speach, Hungary, ISLAM
well said. I agree with you, the TV station that showed it, are largely responsible. I live in the U.S, but don’t bother myself to watch silly stuff like this on youtube, and most Muslims don’t!. If it wasn’t the TV station, will never hear it. I hope they learned from it. Thanks….