“It
is to be noted that Anglo Saxon and Latin legal systems, apart
from the Islamic law, give protection for the freedom of expression
as long as it serves the interests of society as a whole and
does not lead to inflaming passions and disrupting social
harmony." So, we can ask ourselves - what was truly the
motive of the cartoons?
What
sentiment were they supposed to portray?
"The highest constitutional courts in the United States
stipulate that the freedom of expression is guaranteed only
as long as it carries a minimum of redeeming qualities."
Clearly, the freedom of expression has to be practiced with
some rationale. But, the cartoons were not this freedom of
expression we are talking about. This is the freedom to spread
hate by desecrating a religious personality who is revered
throughout the world. Who, in his lifetime, embodied everything
against the concept of a Terrorist," which we have learnt
to define from the Western media. The cartoons were thus not
a social statement but a preposterous and ignorant rendering
of world history.
I
remember that in November, on InterfaithInteraction Group,
Dr. M.K Sherwani had written at that time that these cartoons
had the potential to cause great harm and should be withdrawn.
A German Journalist had replied that in Western concepts there
was nothing wrong in depicting religious themes in cartoon
form. Both Dr. Sherwani and I had requested him to understand
the Eastern concept of what is considered sacred and to help
us in denouncing this provocative act. But, he did not reply
back.
The
Muslim protests as outlined at the top were calm and decent
for a period of four months, after which many European papers
went ahead and followed suit by publishing the cartoons anyway.
The outrageous acts in the form of burning and death threats
that has occurred recently, is no-doubt unnecessary. But,
the true ingenuity lies in the anticipation of such negative
outbursts by common men, and for men in authoritative positions
to take pre-emptive measures BEFORE the emotions of millions
are preyed upon. Nothing concerning human nature is Absolute.
So, to expect a restrained reaction from each and every individual
is naive. We are all aware that a mutli-layered psyche of
men exists in every country ranging from the easily aggravated
to the morally conscious to the conveniently thick-skinned!
From
the above we see, that it was just not the cartoons but a
lethargic, "don't care" to "serves them right"
reaction from the European Community which deserves censure.
The only heartening fact was the sentiments of the Danish
Ambassadors who had spent time in the Muslim countries and
voiced their dissent. It is thus our responsibility to reiterate
to the masses, the role that such ambassadors can play as
bridges between the Islamic Countries and the West and therefore,
Embassy's should not be easy targets but places to submit
one's petitions. The only prayer is that the country is receptive
to the advice of its own ambassadors!
In
the end, nothing justified the reprinting of those insulting
cartoons across many European countries including France,
Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Switzerland.
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