In the latest outburst of Muslim rage at offences to Islam’s prophet, the actions of some protesters exceeded acceptable limits and should be condemned. In fact, controlling anger is one of the teachings of the prophet they defend.
Attacking embassies and killing diplomatic staff, or anyone for that matter, in the course of a protest is never justifiable. Why should eight South Africans lose their lives in Afghanistan over a video, offensive to Islam?
The problem lies in the fact that, unlike in other cases where there is clear legal recourse and relief, the Muslim faithful have no tribunal in which to address their grievance: the insult and denigration of the most sacred personality of their faith.
As we know, this isn’t the first time such an issue has exploded onto the street. The Muslim religion forbids any depiction of the Prophet Muhammad, even a positive one. Syrian-American filmmaker Moustapha Akkad could not find an audience for his epic Mohammad, Messenger of God, because protests succeeded in shutting down screenings across the world. (Akkad and his daughter were, in fact, later killed by a suicide bomber in Jordan in 2005.)
The response by those who cannot fathom the offence is just as predictable. They feel that freedom of speech trumps the rights of religious people not to have their beliefs defamed. The argument is as fallacious as it is old. There are no absolutes when it comes to freedom of speech: Holocaust denial and hate speech are two examples of the legitimate limitations that can be placed upon it.
There is a difference between freedom of speech and freedom to insult. Every day thousands of articles are published around the world criticising Islam and its teachings, even talking about the prophet and his life. Yet the spirit of criticism is sorely lacking in the Islamic world. It should be encouraged, if it does not infringe on anyone else’s rights. In Western liberal democracies, the concept of harm is not properly defined, though insult to religion is condemned by more than 45 resolutions by international agencies including the UN.
There are also those who say religion, arguably the way of life of most people in the world, does not deserve special protection. Why, then, is it not okay to say something racist or anti-Semitic?
Innocence of Muslims is not a critical movie. It was an amateurish attempt at satire, depicting Islam’s prophet as, among other things, a homosexual, a womaniser and a child molester. It is not critical of the ideas Muhammad offered to mankind, but attacks his personality in a way Muslims find unacceptable.
Questions remain, however, about whether this is merely an insult to Islam or part of a bigger purpose. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned the film, calling it disgusting and reprehensible. She suggested it was intended to denigrate Islam and provoke outrage. Yet, in the same speech, Clinton said that even if it were possible to prevent the film’s release, the US had a long tradition of free expression and that citizens may express their views, no matter how distasteful.
Here is a contradiction. If the film was designed to provoke rage, a purpose it has achieved, there must be a political mastermind behind it. I believe the filmmakers knew the consequences and did it for two reasons, the first of which was to test the readiness of Muslims for a possible war in the Middle East.
Second, it is election time in the US. President Barack Obama is portrayed by the Mitt Romney camp as a friendly to the Muslim world, and they can make political currency of this incident, as in “we told you so about these people”. But Obama could also use these incidents to score his own political points. More broadly, al-Qaeda seems already to be exploiting the outrage and the resultant violence: it began, after all, on the anniversary of 9/11.
Ultimately, the filmmakers’ motive is irrelevant. What will remain is a reminder of the public anger that results every time such an incident happens. Innocent lives are lost when thousands of well-meaning but ignorant worshippers go on the rampage. Preventing the loss of these innocent lives is more important, surely, than the right to say what you like in a movie script?
It’s high time a law was passed around the world prohibiting any kind of defamation or insult to religion — otherwise we are going to witness a repeat of this kind of grim news — again and again and again.
Jim Smoke; Do you have any inkling of just how arrogant and condescending and patronising and presumptuous you were towards jandr0 in your post (October 1, 2012 at 1:16 pm).
It’s extraordinary that religion can allow for and foster such extreme maniacal arrogance in people. WOW!
@camille Leon . ” Evil flourishes when good men do nothing ” is this why that idiot made the Movie ?! what was the point ?!!
The quest for freedom of speech in the West has been the right to criticize religion…that is…the right to criticize the papacy and any doctrine that does not stand up to reason.
This is called the ‘Enlightenment’. Islam has never had an eqivalent of the Enlightenment and Muslims who riot are saying they do not want one.
Much in religion has needed to be examined and criticized. The fact that Islam supports vigilantism, murder of its critics and religious discrimination makes Islam living in a backwater 500 years behind the rest of the world.
We will not go back to your 7th century or 11th century world.
If Muslims don’t like it, they are simply wrong…they are in the wrong religion if it disagrees with science and human rights.
@Zehpour, you shouldn’t forget the hundred million of Africans that died in the slave trade by the Christian Europeans and Muslim Arabs, with the help of the black Africans. You should also remember the million of people that were killed by King Leopold in the DRC in the name of civilizing them. In what is called Nimbi, the Germans wipe out a whole group of people with genocide. So, one can see that Africa had their holocaust also. The sad part about it, the holocaust in Africa isn’t talked about by the Africans.
@ m matthews & S.Hoseini
And there we have it! Witness the remarks and responses from Khan – the ‘peaceful religion’ in all its gory glory…
@Ali.R.Zehpour
Logically and obviously “Evil flourishes when good men do nothing” does not refer to the person who made a movie – but with a belief system such as you display, it is unlikely that you would see anything clearly or logically.
It obviously refers to the evil that is perpetrated by fundamentalist Islamists – which is not condemned or denounced by the ‘good, silent Muslims’ (either too indoctrinated or intimidated to speak out against the atrocities.) In fact, the reasons put forward by Khan and S.Hoseini, actually condones these diabolical actions. Hence the other quotation: ‘Silence is consent’
Your calling the maker of the movie ‘an idiot’ is not a proven fact. It may have been a stupid movie, and may have ‘offended ‘ certain people (but what about porn? It offends people too. Do you suggest that we rush out and kill everyone who makes or watches porn?)
‘What was the point?” He may have wanted to portray a view from a perspective other than your own (as do many satirical cartoon and films). And considering the reaction of outraged Muslims (and when are they not?) it obviously did.
If you are disgusted and disapprove, you are entitled to voice your opinion and objection – just as he was: But it is a criminal abomination to kill innocent people (the US ambassador to Libya) and countless other innocent victims by maniacal terrorists and suicide bombers etc. – because you are ‘offended’.
@Max. The words you use to persecute me, all serve to support the meaning of ‘superiority’ We judge others by our own inconsistencies don’t we. Jesus instructed us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. With authority I will pray for you from a humble standpoint, God bless.
Massage to every one!
“If God does not exists then why do you even deny his Existence?? Denying to his Existence is the Hallmark of his Existence! If you(God) don’t come into my thoughts then how did I understand that you (God) are the one and only!”
@pinkster
Either you are completely misguided or you are deliberately misguiding other people. If someone gets Killed please do not come and blame Islam for that. You are worried about 1 American Ambassador getting Killed; what about the millions of innocent people killed and still getting killed in Iraq,Afghanistan,Palestine and other places? Islam and science go hand in hand. Our religion is based on facts and not stories!
@Camillie Leon
Your reasoning is ill-logical. Your arguments do not support facts. Its either you are blind or may be you have decided to be blind. Yes there is no reason and logic to take innocent lives and Islam is the religion of peace, therefor on the behalf of all the Muslims I strongly Condemn all the killings. At the same time I invite you to share your ideas about millions of innocent people being killed in middle east. What about those people? Is this the so called your free world.21th century or the modern society? Where there is no justice and only evil is being done every where?
Does any one have any answer based on facts?
Khan, it’s ironic that you’re asking for “answers based on facts” yet your “message to everyone!” concerning the existence of god is based on some weird methought.
Cheers
@ camille leon
Thanks for the Quranic references. I read the said verses.
2:89 ” and when there came to them a Book from God confirming that which was with them-although before they used to pray for victory against those who disbelieved- but when there came to them that which they recognised, they disbelieved in it, so the curse of God will be upon the disbelievers”. This verse, to me, does not sound like hate-speech. It talks about a group of people who denied what they themselves were praying for.
2:126 ” and mention when Abraham said, ‘My Lord, make this a secure city and provide its people with fruits- whoever of them believes in God and the Last Day’. (God said), ‘and whoever disbelieves- I will grant him enjoyment for a little, then I will force him to the punishment of the Fire, and wretched is his destination’ ”
2:216 “Fighting has been enjoined upon you while it is hateful to you. But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And God knows, while you know not.”. The order is given to fight, not strange at all. All countries and nations have armies for defense.
3:12 mentions the fate of those who disbelieve. It talks about Judgement and the punishment the disbelievers will face, THERE in the After-Life, not here on Earth.
3:19 says that the religion in the sight of God, is Islam. It makes perfect sense. To Muslims, their religion is correct, to Christians there’s is correct. I…
The other references also do not encourage the Muslim people to hate “infidels”.
But, I’m still reading. Thanks,
@ Khan I quote you: “.Yes there is no reason and logic to take innocent lives and Islam is the religion of peace.”
In other words, the ‘peace-loving’ religion, rejects the taking of innocent lives – BUT …
The best form of defence is attack.. The best way to voice your opinion, is to attack. The best way to show disapproval is to attack – and it makes no matter who gets attacked!
This ‘free world’ does not belong to me. iBut neither does it belong to you.
And certainly it does not belong to Muslims who think they can do with it what they will – to deny that they do it, and then make excuses as to why they do it.
A conglomerate of the gullible, the confused, killers and cowards.
“Never confuse an excuse for an apology;
And instead of an apology, never confuse an excuse and the justifying of it, as anything less than an insult’”.
.
@ Khan …
“A conglomerate of the gullible, the confused, killers and cowards.”
… I omitted to mention, ‘the oppressed’, of course. – the women, who are ‘your business’.
@ m matthews
Thanks for the good work! You are on your way to the right path; if you are not there already.
@m matthews There mere fact that Khan endorses and encourages it, should send you scuttling in the opposite direction.
Think for yourself – do not sheep-repeat texts written centuries ago – and which have no relevance in the world today. Look at the violence and the atrocities committted in the name of certain ‘religions’
Studies show that many of the biblical characters may have been delusional or schizophrenic ; and that the ‘incence’ they brned, may well have been something like dagga.
‘God’ gave you a brain, man. Use it.
@ Camille Leon, A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions. This is rather relevant today and will still be in a hundred years time and beyond. Here is another one…..There is more hope for a fool than a man who is wise in his own eyes. Also very relevant….. One more…..He who hates correction is stupid. The writings of Herodotus furnish a test case that prove that even after two generations legendary ideas could not erase hard core historical facts. The gospels were written and circulated within the first generation of the resurrection. It is impossible to think that 500 people would hallucinate about the same thing,and neither could they have been subjected visions.’God’ gave you a soul, man use it.