Freedom of Expression and Islam
It is often claimed in the West that Muslims are too sensitive to criticism and react emotionally to those who dare to challenge their Islamic dogmas or medieval traditions and norms. To support this argument, it is pointed out that Muslims have always committed violence, threatened and murdered opponents and burnt the embassies and flags of other nations in particular from the Western hemisphere. All this, the reasoning goes is to silence the criticism of Islam and to curtail the Freedom of Expression.
Of course, some of these assertions have merit. We have recently seen the scenes of violence in response to the publications of insulting caricatures of Prophet Mohammed in the right wing Danish newspaper – Jyllands-Posten and in other European media.
And then, there was the great controversy of Salman Rudhie’s book; Satan Verses in 1989 and how this incident has effected the way, Islam is being presented and described in the West.
Looking at these two large-scale disturbing events a bit closely, one notices a similar pattern of provocation and expected response. These happenings advanced the already prevalent Islamophobia to another level.
But there is also an other factor, which is often overlooked. It is the lack of opportunities for Muslim intellectuals and political activists, of peaceful response through the Western media.
The biggest hindrance in the fight against Islamophobia in the West or an open debate is that Muslim communities have very few possibilities to counter anti-Islam propaganda in the mainstream Western media.
Alone in the English language media, there is a powerful lobby of CNN, BBC World Service, Voice of America, Time Magazine, Newsweek and International Herald Tribune as well as thousands of anti-Islam Web sites. The same is true in French, German, Spanish or other European languages; my own country Denmark included. These outlets are frequently used by the Intellectuals, both Western and also some from the ranks of Muslim minorities themselves who wish to give their own simplistic as well as distorted version of Islamic reality.
It is very common to listen or read a number of Islam experts who have their own axe to grind or to further a certain political or cultural agenda. They misquote Quran, comment on diverse Muslim cultures as if they were part of a universal threat or just dish out misinformation without being asked to prove what they claim. This endless stream of statements has a colossal impact on the public opinion – both non-Muslim and Muslim. Non-Muslims get their prejudices confirmed and Muslims are left with the feelings of powerlessness and anger.
This vast international platform is not available to those – Muslim or progressive Western intellectuals - who wish to balance or nuance the debate.
If the field of play was evenly distributed and both parts had an equal possibility to exchange views, debate assertions and come to a reasonable understanding then the whole concept of Freedom of Expression would be most welcome and appreciated by Muslims.
In the absence of an open debate forum and in the presence of ever-increasing one way barrage of accusations against Islam, no wonder the line of communication has broken down. It is in this kind of atmosphere, Muslim minorities turn to undesirable means. Angry reaction is the direct result of arrogance and closed ears on the part of the majority society. People are not born in a certain way, to think laterally or to act aggressively. They are the products of the treatment, society dishes out to them.
This is in no way a defence of violence, which a tiny minority among 1.5 billion Muslims all over the World commits by misusing the name of Islam. This is in fact an effort to analyse the situation in which majority of Muslims find themselves, often ignored, marginalised and constantly under attack in the media. In the heat of discussions this point often gets lost. Media has a right to point a finger of blame but it should also look at the reasons, why a weak minority group’ acts in a certain way.
In the discussion about Islam or for that matter any other topic, media not only should provide its platform to the critical voices but should also make sure that those who are in the line of fire, have the equal opportunity to respond.
Only then, we can call the freedom of expression a true democratic value.
Any thing else would be considered by Muslim communities, the dictatorship of the majority.
Bashy Quraishy
Chief Editor, Media Watch, Copenhagen
President – European Network against racism - Brussels
Of course, some of these assertions have merit. We have recently seen the scenes of violence in response to the publications of insulting caricatures of Prophet Mohammed in the right wing Danish newspaper – Jyllands-Posten and in other European media.
And then, there was the great controversy of Salman Rudhie’s book; Satan Verses in 1989 and how this incident has effected the way, Islam is being presented and described in the West.
Looking at these two large-scale disturbing events a bit closely, one notices a similar pattern of provocation and expected response. These happenings advanced the already prevalent Islamophobia to another level.
But there is also an other factor, which is often overlooked. It is the lack of opportunities for Muslim intellectuals and political activists, of peaceful response through the Western media.
The biggest hindrance in the fight against Islamophobia in the West or an open debate is that Muslim communities have very few possibilities to counter anti-Islam propaganda in the mainstream Western media.
Alone in the English language media, there is a powerful lobby of CNN, BBC World Service, Voice of America, Time Magazine, Newsweek and International Herald Tribune as well as thousands of anti-Islam Web sites. The same is true in French, German, Spanish or other European languages; my own country Denmark included. These outlets are frequently used by the Intellectuals, both Western and also some from the ranks of Muslim minorities themselves who wish to give their own simplistic as well as distorted version of Islamic reality.
It is very common to listen or read a number of Islam experts who have their own axe to grind or to further a certain political or cultural agenda. They misquote Quran, comment on diverse Muslim cultures as if they were part of a universal threat or just dish out misinformation without being asked to prove what they claim. This endless stream of statements has a colossal impact on the public opinion – both non-Muslim and Muslim. Non-Muslims get their prejudices confirmed and Muslims are left with the feelings of powerlessness and anger.
This vast international platform is not available to those – Muslim or progressive Western intellectuals - who wish to balance or nuance the debate.
If the field of play was evenly distributed and both parts had an equal possibility to exchange views, debate assertions and come to a reasonable understanding then the whole concept of Freedom of Expression would be most welcome and appreciated by Muslims.
In the absence of an open debate forum and in the presence of ever-increasing one way barrage of accusations against Islam, no wonder the line of communication has broken down. It is in this kind of atmosphere, Muslim minorities turn to undesirable means. Angry reaction is the direct result of arrogance and closed ears on the part of the majority society. People are not born in a certain way, to think laterally or to act aggressively. They are the products of the treatment, society dishes out to them.
This is in no way a defence of violence, which a tiny minority among 1.5 billion Muslims all over the World commits by misusing the name of Islam. This is in fact an effort to analyse the situation in which majority of Muslims find themselves, often ignored, marginalised and constantly under attack in the media. In the heat of discussions this point often gets lost. Media has a right to point a finger of blame but it should also look at the reasons, why a weak minority group’ acts in a certain way.
In the discussion about Islam or for that matter any other topic, media not only should provide its platform to the critical voices but should also make sure that those who are in the line of fire, have the equal opportunity to respond.
Only then, we can call the freedom of expression a true democratic value.
Any thing else would be considered by Muslim communities, the dictatorship of the majority.
Bashy Quraishy
Chief Editor, Media Watch, Copenhagen
President – European Network against racism - Brussels
posted by Bashy at 2:28 PM
