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Cartoons crisis : tunisian sez what we need is worlwide limits on freedom of expression
Tunis, 14 Feb. (AKI) - In order to repair the rift between sections of the West and the Muslim world caused by the series of satirical Danish-originated cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed - which have been republished in over a dozen newspapers around the globe - regional political organisations need to act fast, Mongi Bousnina, director general of the Arab Organisation for Education, Culture and Science and former Tunisian culture minister Mongi Bousnina told Adnkronos International (AKI).Bousina said organisations such as the European Union, the Arab League and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) must swiftly reach agreement on an "an honourable compromise" for both sides, to prevent any further escalation of the violent protests and consumer boycotts of Scandinavian goods in several Middle Eastern countries caused by Muslim outrage over the cartoons first published by Danish daily Jyllands-Posten last year. "In the medium term, the most important thing to do is to develop a set of rules for the international community that put religions above politics and gives them special protection from the excesses of freedom of expression," argued Bousnina. Last week, the OIC called for the insertion of language requiring the UN's new Human Rights Council to "prevent instances of intolerance, discrimination, incitement of hatred and violence," arising from "any actions against religions, Prophets and beliefs." The move is a direct result of the dispute over the Jyllands-Posten's caricatures of Mohammed, of whom the Islamic teachings explicitly forbid images. According to Bousnina, in Tunisia's view, freedom of expression must stop where other human rights begin, such as the right to religious belief and practice. All this must go hand in hand with increased forums for dialogue between cultures, peoples, civilisations and religions, he argued. "The first thing that we need to remember is that the entire Muslim world has considered these cartoons offensive and unacceptable, as they concern the venerated Prophet Mohammed." We strongly defend our beliefs, just as we defend freedom of expression and dialogue between civilisations and religions," he said. "We are convinced that the Prophet of this religion [Islam], who has over the course of more than 14 centuries, spread the values of tolerance, fraternity, justice and solidarity among peoples, may not be portrayed in this way and his image may not be associated with terrorism," Bousnina emphasised. "In our view, this populist simplification represents a major threat to the future of relations between the Arab world and Western nations, and forms further proof of the absolute need to pursue dialogue... and to oppose the intellectual illiteracy present in some quarters," he continued. Such "erroneous", "simplistic" and "irresponsible" acts as the Danish-originated cartoons are likely to exacerabate terrorism and violence and militate against mutual understanding between civilisations and religions, and set this back centuries. Bousina contended. "But despite this, the great majority of Arabs and Muslims remain committed to the fight against terrorism and to constructive dialogue in a spirit of equality and mutual respect," he concluded. Every society views some things as sacred and does not accept their profaning, Habib Boularas, a former Tunisian foreign minister and minister of culture, told AKI. "In Europe, examples of such things are the Holocaust and Jesus Christ," he said. On the question of whether the recent publication of the Danish-originated cartoons, one of which portrays Mohammed as a terrorist, or the retaliatory Holocaust competition reportedly planned by an Iranian daily should be upheld as freedom of expression, he said only: "Freedom of speech must mean that in all areas." Mongia Souyahi, a lecturer in Koranic studies at one of Tunisia's oldest religious universities, the Azzitounna, located in the Tunisian capital, Tunis, told AKI that the current standoff between Muslims and the West is "very dangerous for the whole world". "Artists are free to express what does not insult the beliefs of any religion. While she confirmed that images of the Prophet are blasphemous, according to the Koran, she deplored the violent Muslim reaction to the cartoons (embassies torched, and 14 people killed in protests in Afghanistan, Somalia, Lebanon and Pakistan) as barbaric excess. Muslims must not be violent, that is not Islam - Mohammed was not a fanatic, she said. "Rage is not civilised - there are other avenues, such as dialogue, to address a problem. . "The Western world does not believe the Prophet Mohammed was a prophet, and Arabs are not respected in some parts of it," she noted. The anti-cartoon protests have been an excuse for Muslims to vent their anger over the American occupation of Iraq, the suffering of the Palestinian people, the indefinite detention without trial of Muslims in the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, she added. Western leaders and opinon-maker must change their view of Muslims, and respect moderate Muslims' religious beliefs, she argued, saying: "Especially in this inter-connected world, we must respect each other." Just as important, she argues is to treat people equally, and address the issues of of poverty and colonisation. Asked how important a cessation of Muslim-Western hostilities would be during the 2006 Winter Olympics - currently taking place in the northern Italian city of Turin - at this difficult moment in Muslim-Western relations, Souyahi said: "It would be a great sin now and in the future to disrupt such an event, which like cultural events, brings peoples closer together. People taking part in these events should never be terrorised. All intelligent people want peace," she emphasised. Posted by: anonymous5089 2006-02-15 |
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