Muslims around the world are perturbed by the blasphemous movie. Where most of us are looking towards our governments and the OIC to record a unified protest against the movie, many have taken to the streets and are protesting in a violent way. Very few like myself, though equally grieved by this unfortunate incident, would rather like to ignore the filth which has been deliberately used to provoke what is happening around the world and being shown on the international media.
Let’s not do free publicity for this movie. Let’s not behave like criminals by destroying our own property. Let’s not be puppets in the hands of those who want to see us behaving in a certain way. Let our government record protest on our behalf at international forums.
Osman A
Rawalpindi
*****
A prominent leader has been reported as linking the Holocaust denial and the furore over a blasphemous film as an example of hypocrisy in the Europe and the US regarding the freedom of speech. It has been demanded that laws similar to those that make denial of Holocaust illegal should be implemented for Muslims, as Muslims are being hurt by the freedom of speech in these countries. The linkage is misplaced because it misrepresents important issues regarding free speech in the Europe and the US. The laws regarding the Holocaust are related specifically to the denial of the Holocaust or other genocides. Incidentally, the countries with such laws are mostly countries with specific histories of persecution of Jews. The UK and the US do not have laws against Holocaust denial.
Also, laws prohibiting hate speech already exist in most European countries, including the UK. So, it is possible to prosecute those who inflame hatred and incite violence. If someone’s religious feelings are hurt in these countries, they can go to courts. The situation in the US is different because of an enshrined right to free speech in the First Amendment of the US Constitution. Incidentally, it is the same amendment that prohibits impediment to Muslims and followers of any religion to practise their religion in the US.
R Matif
London, UK