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| Cartoons crisis : tunisian sez what we need is worlwide limits on freedom of expression |
| 2006-02-15 |
| 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 |
| #25 No surprise here - San Fracisco Supervisor MARIO SANDOVAL, on FNC's HANNITY & COLMES, had the gall to say in front of the incoming USS IOWA that America doesn't need a military, espec one that will be used for deception and to start unnecessary wars or wars for oil in the ME, and that USDOD monies should be used instead for welfare progs [i.e the Nanny State], AND THAT POLICE FORCES BE USED TO RESPOND TO ANY NEW TERROR ATTACKS. SO not only does CLINTONISM premise that mainstream Americans are pro-Socialist and pro-Communism anyways, and by definition wish to be ruled by anyone except an America, along comes Sandoval to indirectly argue lets also hire Russia-China to protect us. Yep, good Clintonians demand that the Commies take their guns, wealth, women, food, lands, Continent, jobs, etc. .............@ and pet dogs. DEEP DOWN, WE ALL KNOW AMERICANS WANNA BE SENT TO THE DEATH CAMPS ANDOR MASS SUICIDE STATIONS. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2006-02-15 23:22 |
| #24 Jews - 0.2% They're everywhere! |
| Posted by: 6 2006-02-15 16:49 |
| #23 "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." Yeah, well what if I believe in the Pig God? -- so does that count? Will my preferences be honored? Didn't think so . . . |
| Posted by: ex-lib 2006-02-15 15:31 |
| #22 bk, Google is your friend, try it sometime. http://www.religioustolerance.org/worldrel.htm Christian - 33% Muslim - 19.6% Hindu - 13.4% Non-Religious - 12.7% Chinese Folk - 6.4% Buddhists - 5.9% Sikhs - 0.4% Jews - 0.2% Must be nice for the Islamists to know that a tiny little religion like the Jews keeps kicking their @ss up to the back of their necks whenever it wants to. Humiliation doesn't even begin to cover it. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-02-15 15:26 |
| #21 What we need is to give Islam and Mohammand (MHRIH) what they so richly deseves: Public Ridicule. Point and Laugh at the fools. Make jokes about the brave 'Lions of Islam' and the all-powerful Allah and his stooge Mohamand who can't even defend his own honor against some stupid cartoons. And this just gives our cyber-defenses a workout. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2006-02-15 15:17 |
| #20 BK last time I looked the MAJORITY of people in the world DO NOT follow Allan's moonbat cult. If you're not the MAJORITY that makes you the MINORITY. Duh. |
| Posted by: AlanC 2006-02-15 15:04 |
| #19 We are now confronted with a minority religion Get your facts right, Islam is not a minority religion, duh |
| Posted by: bk 2006-02-15 14:15 |
| #18 I hope everyone realizes that a certain someone is reading Rantburg today, masturbating furiously, and chanting "fascists, fascists, fascists!!!" I belong to a civilization that -- as flawed as it is, as many mistakes as it has made -- has made unparalleled contributions to humanity. I intended to defend it, particularly against those who think the proper lot of man is slavery. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2006-02-15 13:06 |
| #17 BTW: Looks like Malkin, anong others, is being DDOS'ed from the Muddle East. Big surprise. Be a real shame if those countries' internet service got terminated for a day or so, huh? Might teach 'em who actually OWNS the fucking infrastructure... http://michellemalkin.com/archives/004535.htm |
| Posted by: mojo 2006-02-15 12:38 |
| #16 Thanks for your input, now please fuck off. Yes, Kofi, you too. |
| Posted by: mojo 2006-02-15 12:20 |
| #15 Childish, simply childish. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2006-02-15 11:49 |
| #14 "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. Paging Kofi Annan ... Kofi Annan to the main lobby, please. As people have already noted, this one is for all the marbles. We already have a set of rules to deal with this, better known as sovereignty. Nations that properly elect their leaders and adhere to well-established rules of international conduct seem to get along just fine. Those that don't tend to get their @sses kicked and have better governments installed. We are now confronted with a minority religion attempting to dictate the forms and means of self-expression that the rest of the world must adhere to. If this is not a crystal clear message as to what sort of oppression awaits, then it will take a nuclear terrorist attack. Islam must be put on notice that they are sealing their doom with this intolerant spewing. Too many other countries will simply refuse to have the hands of time rolled back by several centuries. Half this world's population (women) stand at risk of enduring a genetic holocaust. All good people must rise against such a detestable notion. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-02-15 11:38 |
| #13 That's a Moderate Muslim, right? |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2006-02-15 10:34 |
| #12 And if we fail at the ideological war then there would be only one option left. You're an optimist, JFM. I've already concluded that that is the only option left. |
| Posted by: BH 2006-02-15 10:12 |
| #11 Somebody needs to inform these wombats that the Constitution, Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence are the Sacred Scriptures of all Americans. We know we can worship whatever God, religion or whatever we choose because of the protection they afford us, like a mighty protector. So when they start messing with the ideas in our Sacred Documents, they'd better expect trouble. A lot more than they can dish out. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-02-15 09:53 |
| #10 "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. Question: Under such a scenario (as implausible as that is), what happens if a practitioner of some minor or offbeat religion badmouths Islam? |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2006-02-15 09:51 |
| #9 A better argument is to say to this Tunisian that since Islam contributes so very little to the modern world anyway, it shouldn't bother them. Just do what their Imam tells them to do, and stop bothering to try and understand advanced concepts like reading, or anything else invented after the 9th Century. It will just make their little heads hurt. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2006-02-15 09:44 |
| #8 "There are moderate Muslims." That's one of the things I admire about you, RC - you're an optimist, lol. |
| Posted by: .com 2006-02-15 09:36 |
| #7 But I hope that we will win by having most present Muslims rejecting it. Good luck with that. Four years after 9/11, self-proclaimed "moderate Muslims" refuse to acknowledge that bin Laden was involved. When the video of him taking "credit" is brought up, the response is blather about the tape being fake. There are moderate Muslims. Just not enough of them to make a rat's ass of difference. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2006-02-15 09:11 |
| #6 "We should be inundating Muslim countries with propaganda showing them the atrocities perpetrated in Darfur..." I think the Janjaweed recuitment hotline would be logjammed. |
| Posted by: Quatermass 2006-02-15 09:03 |
| #5 Fine. Let them start by apologizing for all those anti-jooooooo articles and cartoons. Not to mention the profanation from Nativity's Church or the preaches where Christians are presnted as eaters of human flesh and drinkers of human blood. |
| Posted by: JFM 2006-02-15 08:28 |
| #4 I also think that it is Islam or us. But I hope that we will win by having most present Muslims rejecting it. That is why the ideological battle is so important. We should be inundating Muslim countries with propaganda showing them the atrocities perpetrated in Darfur, questionning the way teh Saoudis extract huge sums of money from piss poor countries through the hadj, we should be exploiting the national rifts by presenting Islam as an instrument of alien domination and of stagnation and of couse we should be playing sunni against shia, sufi against wahabi. Instead we do nothing to convince Muslims that Islam is evil and let Michael Moore or the Beeeb work at persuade both them and us that we are the evil guys. And if we fail at the ideological war then there would be only one option left. |
| Posted by: JFM 2006-02-15 08:26 |
| #3 Fine. Let them start by apologizing for all those anti-jooooooo articles and cartoons. |
| Posted by: PlanetDan 2006-02-15 08:12 |
| #2 "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. On 9/11 I had a shuddersome premonition: this will be a war of extermination. We will do everything we can think of doing to prevent it from becoming that, but in the end that's what it will be. Islam will give us no other choice. In the next decade, a billion people will die. In all the time since then, nothing has reinforced that sense of inevitability like the "cartoon crisis". Not 3/11, not 7/7, not Bali, not Beslan. None of those horrors convinced me, absolutely, that this is going to be a fight to the death between their way of life and ours, one of which will be obliterated utterly. But this does. This is a chasm that cannot be bridged, and there is no abiding the evil that Islam has become. |
| Posted by: Dave D. 2006-02-15 08:03 |
| #1 develop a set of rules for the international community that put religions above politics I stopped reading when I got to this. Everyone keep doing all they can to crank up this issue. This is the ultimate no-brainer slamdunk winner for western liberalism. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2006-02-15 07:56 |