Both a French and a German newspaper have reprinted the series of 12 Danish newspaper cartoons depicting Prophet Muhammad PBUH, that have sparked huge protests in the Muslim world.
The France Soir daily said it had published the cartoons in the name of freedom of expression and to fight religious intolerance.
Under a headline “Yes, we have the right to caricature God”, the paper ran a front page cartoon with Buddha, the Christian and Jewish Gods and Prophet Muhammad sitting on a cloud above Earth, with the Christian God saying: “Don’t complain Muhammad, we’ve all been caricatured here.”
The German Welt daily put one of the drawings on its front page on Wednesday, saying the picture was “harmless” and regretting that the Danish Jyllands-Posten daily had apologised for causing offense.
“There is no right to protection from satire in the West; there is a right to blasphemy”, says Serge Faubert, France Soir editor.
Well it seems everyone is jumping on this bandwagon, and then saying that they did it in the name of “Freedom of Expression”!!
In fact this French daily says it’s also doing it to fight religious intolerance. So, just to get this straight, they’re fighting religious intolerance by attacking another religion and its prophet!
What kind of tolerance is that?!
And do they think that publishing the caricatures with others of God and Christian and Jewish figures makes it better?
Of course it doesn’t. In Islam we believe in God and all his prophets, and we find it unacceptable to portray any of them in such tasteless manners.
And as for Buddha, it’s unacceptable too because we should respect our brother buddhist’s religion as well.
Anyway, I’ll go on with their claims, and I’ll try to convince myself that it’s all in the name of “Freedom of Expression”, although I personally believe that any person’s freedom ends where the next person’s freedom begins, but let’s try to get over that.
But, based on that, aren’t we also entitled to this same freedom of expression?
Isn’t it normal for us too to express ourselves and say that we’re unhappy about these cartoons and act upon it in peaceful ways like demonstration or boycott?
Or is this so-called freedom available to some and not to others?!!
Why are there always double standards when it comes to dealing with Arabs and Muslims?!!
Related Links:
– The Black Iris
– Al Jazeera
– BBC News
The french newspaper “France-Soir” actually got some financial problems, this is why it’s jumped on this bandwagon thinking that it will resolve its problems. Indeed France-Soir is on the verge of bankruptcy.
See : http://www.tageblatt.lu/edition/article.asp?ArticleId=45296
I heared that the redaction chief of France-Soir was fired today
I agree with you tha protests are an appropriate way to express anger over this. However i also beleive that the press can caricature just about anything they want. This is how western freedom works.
Targeting foreign tourists from countries where this happens is not an appropriate response however. This is racism at it’s worst.
The peopel in those place are not responsible for the choices of others, and neither are their governmetns.
Hey Bro., Great Post Again.
“my Previous comment stands”
As a Muslim, in my
this post was linked on maghreblog.net
“1- Cartons/Caricatures are a great way to express a
To andrewb:
Thanks a million for making my point 🙂
You have successfully demonstrated a form of intolerance
um, no, I was just pointing out how ridiculous some of things you were saying were.
Likewise.
Look, nobody is saying that the west is trying to prevent the ‘Muslims’ or ‘Arabs’ from saying what they like but really boycotting products will in the long run damage yourselves just as much as it will damage Denmark…there is a reason you trade with Denmark – ever tried Lurpack? Sorry if what I say seems irrelevant but like has been pointed out why is it only the Muslims that feel like they are constantly being pointed the finger at? I don’t see the jews complaining and boycotting other arab states for their religious prejudice. If its sooo true about the Muslims are told to respect all other religions how come if you are jewish you can’t enter certain arab/muslim countries? Don’t argue with this as it is a fact – I am currently living in one of those states! How can you point the finger at one Muslim then when it is countries predominantly Muslim that are dictating the rules! How come you don’t all get together to boycott these places until they stop being so anti-semetic?
Sara,
There is a difference between a
andrewb said:
” The Mohammad caricatures are not the comparable with mocking the sufferring of Jews in the Holocaust.”
please be unbiased for a minute and think about this. “freedom of speech” states that you have the right to say whatever you feel like, we are saying if this is how you define it then why would it be a crime if you make fun of the holocaust?
no body is comparing any thing, only a simple logical question…
now, we Muslims won’t make fun of other religions not because we lack that modern feel of “freedom of speech”, that you THINK you have, but because we respect your religious figures as they are ours as well.
in the bigger picture we are not discussing the case of the pervert caricatures, it’s the raising movement of ignorance about the other which is leading many people to the Cancer of today’s international relations which is ISLAMOPHOBIA.
Nasser, I’m just curious. When jets carrying innocent people crashed into the World Trade Center killing even more innocent people in the name of Allah, I failed to see Muslims taking to the streets armed with automatic assault riffles condemning the attacks. When a group of Muslims beheads an innocent westerner while the rest of his brothers look on and shout out “Alluh khbar!” (or something to that extent), I didn’t seem to see the Muslim world take notice. The world never sees Muslims on CNN talking about how they condemn the killing of innocent people in the name of Allah but they break out the assualy riffles and call out war when a cartoon makes it to press. Granted that you find it offensive, shouldn’t you find it offensive as well when Muhammad and Allah’s name are used by psycopathic maniacs to foster their perverted, maniacal interests? You want to rid the world of what you refer to as Islamophobia? Maybe you should start by cleaning your backyard first. No disrespect meant brother. Just a thought. Just a thought.
Khadra,
Here’s what you said: “There is a difference between a
Wolverine,
I agree with everything you said. I
Khadra,
A look into history will reveal that the Jewish people have laid claim to the land of Israel for over 3,000 years. The Romans took it from the first Israelis, then the Arabs took it from the Romans, and so on and so forth.
So, you see, they’ve always been there, constantly embattled and driven out, only to return. Arab land owners even sold Israelis large estates of property back in the not so old days (circa 1880’s). Why they would later take them on after making money out of them is beyond me though. Might be that the Israelis made pretty darn good & productive use of the land.
Feel free to have a look into the old books in case you doubt what I’m saying. If 3,000 years of history is wrong then yeah, I made a few typos dude.
Wolverine,
Once again I agree with everything you said. “3,000” it is.
p.s.
When I say “historical accuracy” i mean “5,000+” yearold history.
Hint: Use the Pyramids as your historical baseline. Oh I
Truly!? Wow! Can you please show everyone where you got this information from? History is such an intriguing subject, is it not?