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International Herald Tribune, France

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Compromising on Free Expression would be 'Unbearable' (Le Soir, Belgium)

 

"We would rather side with the white knights who have the courage to brave dangerous extremists capable of setting their editorial offices ablaze. ... we would rather join with those who assert 'this is our country, and here, we write what we want to write about Islam, because our secular traditions prevail. We will not lie down in cowardice before religious zealots.'"

 

By Didier Mamann

 

Translated By Katia Mohandi

 

September 21, 2012

 

Belgium - Le Soir - Original Article (French)

People in Bangladesh rally against an American video and French cartoons that they find insulting to the Prophet Muhammad, Sept. 26.

 

AL-JAZEERA NEWS VIDEO: Hezbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah warns of 'consequences' of showing film that insults Muhammad, Sept. 20, 00:02:04RealVideo

Should we compromise on a fundamental element of our democracy, free expression? This is the question raised by the publication of cartoons depicting Prophet Mohammed in Charlie Hebdo [French satirical newspaper].

 

The idea is unbearable. So we would rather side with the white knights who have the courage to brave dangerous extremists capable of setting their editorial offices ablaze. We would like to loudly proclaim the inviolable right of newspapers to publish opinions and illustrations in keeping with both their roles and whimsies. For that matter, we would rather join with those who assert “this is our country, and here, we write what we want to write about Islam, because our secular traditions prevail. We will not lie down in cowardice before religious zealots.”

Posted by Worldmeets.US

 

But isn’t this a bit overly-simplistic? Let’s be clear. The publication of these cartoons wasn't meant to serve any noble intention. It wasn’t about delivering analysis or opinion on Islam to be accompanied by humorous illustrations. Neither was it to thumb our nose at religious fundamentalists who question the foundation of our secular democracies. The decision to publish these cartoons was driven by all accounts to provoke a violent reaction. (Let’s hope it wasn’t driven by the profit motive!)

 

Within the context of the seismic reaction triggered by the American anti-Islamic film, this [publishing the inflammatory cartoons] was an act of grave irresponsibility, which is likely to cause a good deal of grief - if not even deaths.

 

Unfortunately, the satirical weekly has proven nothing by acting this way. It is feared that it will bring unnecessary demonstrations by a handful of galvanized Allah followers capable of blind and murderous retaliation. And not publishing such cartoons would have done nothing to call into question our own principles.

 

 

 

 

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By wrapping itself in virtue, Charlie Hebdo has not served the freedom of expression, but has used it to stir up a firestorm.

 

The damage is done. How can we now appeal to reason? How can we prevent more deaths? How do we explain to Muslims that true democrats don't wish to voluntarily offend by publishing insulting cartoons or distributing a ridiculous film? The vast majority of Muslims have no wish to challenge our principles of free expression and right to satire. Such a thing would be futile. On both sides, there are belligerents who benefit from turning a deaf ear to calls for appeasement.

 

SEE ALSO ON THIS:
Kayhan, Iran: Khamenei: Muslim Hatred of the 'Enemies' is a 'Wonderful' Thing
Gomhuria, Egypt: Let Us Boycott and 'Put on Trial' Those Who Mock Muhammad
Komsomolskaya Pravda, Russia : Pussy Riot Punks and the 'Innocence of Christians'
FARS News Agency, Iran: Iran Commander Warns Attack Could Trigger 'World War III'
FARS News Agency, Iran: 'Overabundance' of Freedom Tied to Islamophobia and Blasphemy
Handelsblatt, Germany: 'Military Option' Poses Threat to Global Economy
FARS News, Iran: 'Overabundance' of Free Speech Tied to Islamophobia, Blasphemy
Kayhan, Iran: The Mahdi is Reappearing to Rid World of 'Devils in Human Form'
Le Monde, France: Lesson Unlearned: The Prophet Transcends All Films or Cartoons
Die Welt, Germany: Ahmadinejad Announces Iranian Plans to 'Administer the World'
Kayhan, Iran: Ahmadinejad: Egypt Revolution Reveals Hand of the 'Mahdi'
Grand Mufti, Egypt: 'Prophet Mohammad Endured Personal Insults without Retaliating'
DE TIJD, Belgium: Americans Mistaken to Buckle Under on Free Speech
Der Standard, Austria: For Now at Least, it's Lose-Lose for the U.S. in the Muslim World
Al Watan, Libya: If the Prophet Can be Insulted, then the Holocaust can be Questioned
Le Quotidien d’Oran, Algeria: Why Insulting the Prophet Always 'Pays Off Big'
Der Spiegel, Germany: Muslim Protests Show Limits of Free Speech
Frankfurter Rundschau, Germany: Islam in Turmoil: Religion as 'Ersatz-Identity'
Al Watan, Libya: Libyan Fatwa Court Calls Attack on Americans an 'Offense to Islam'
The Independent, U.K.: Obama's Foreign Policy of Reconciliation Lies in 'Tatters'
Die Zeit, Germany: Romney's 'Nostalgia' Ill-Suited to Reality of Fast-Changing World
Die Tageszeitung, Germany: Muslim Unrest Raises Stakes of U.S. Election Even Higher
Independent, U.K.: 'Inside Story' of U.S. Envoy's Assassination
Global Times, China:
America is 'Disrespectful' of Other Cultures
Daily Star, Lebanon: Influential Lebanon MP Says Israel Backed Film to Defeat Obama
Debka File, Israel: Al-Qaeda Chief Zawahri 'Personally Ordered' Murder of U.S. Envoy
Independent, U.K.: 'Provocateurs' East and West Know: Politics and Religion Don't Mix ’
Telegraph, U.K.: Arab Spring Turns Sour for United States
Telegraph, U.K.: Ambassador Chris Stevens: Man of Drive, Passion
Independent, U.K.: Fear and Loathing: Another Unholy Row about Islam
Guardian, U.K.: Attack in Libya Underlines Threat of Salafi Islamists
Global Times, China: America ‘Disqualified’ as Global Human Rights Judge
Xinhua, China: Human Rights Record of the United States in 2011
Rodong Sinmun, North Korea: America by Far World’s Leading Human Rights Abuser
Yezhednevniy Zhurnal, Russia: Putin is Mistaken to Favor China Over the United States
Huanqiu, China: U.S. Should Keep its Nuclear Weapons Away from Koreas
Guardian, U.K.: It Should Have Been Clear - Deposing Qaddafi was the Easy Part

 

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[Posted by Worldmeets.US Sept. 27, 10:57pm]

 

 

 

 

 







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