Editorial
Offending the masses is not a fundamental right
By
Jan 27, 2008 - 7:52:48 PM

SUNDAY EDITORIAL | The Qur'an is such a Holy Book that Muslims are willing to fight for it and defend it.

A new anti-Islam short film, produced by Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders, is generating a lot of debate both inside the Netherlands and in the world at large because the content of this yet-unseen film might ignite religious violence. Focus in European newspapers and journals has primarily centered around the potential for violence from Muslims, in Europe and in other parts of the globe. The real debate has been intentionally or inadvertently shifted from the core issue at hand here: the limits to the freedom of expression.

Supporters of MP Wilders' film maintain that the Dutch politician is well within his fundamental rights to produce such a film, no matter how offensive. Although no one (or very few people) has seen this film yet, the media uproar has created a suspenseful atmosphere, with many Western publications expecting a violent response from the Islamic world, as if this is the "natural" reaction to be expected from Muslims. Countless writers likened the Muslims' anticipated response to riots that followed the 2005 publication of Danish caricatures that insulted the Prophet Mohamed (peace and blessings be upon him).

To their credit, the European publications rightly portrayed MP Wilders as an extremist politician who has called for the Qur'an (Islam's Holy Book) to be banned in the Netherlands. His film is supposedly about the Qur'an, that holiest of all holy books, which Muslims worldwide believe to be the literal Word of Allah (God).

Speaking with Agence France-Presse, Luxembourg's Minister of Justice, Luc Frieden, said it best: "It is our moral duty to call upon everybody, to make people aware, so that they do not abuse their fundamental rights" of freedom of expression, adding: "We must also protect those who may be hurt or harmed by irresponsible statements."

Indeed, MP Wilders' provocative character, which we can rightly assume will be reflected in his film, is an irresponsible transgression on the freedoms of expression. This is a man who has called the Qur'an "a fascist book" and expects Muslims to abandon their religion if they wish to live in the Netherlands. In Islam, the Holy Books of Judaism and Christianity, the Torah and the Bible, respectively, are enshrined as Books revealed to prophets before the time of Prophet Mohamed (peace and blessings upon him). As such, these Revelations must be held with high regard and treated with utmost respect.

The theme of the MP Wilders' film is to associate growing unrest and anger across the Islamic world to the Qur'an, a Divine Revelation that preaches the values of peace, justice and mercy. Of course, the vast majority of Muslims will react with anger to anyone who disrespects the Word of Allah. But that is precisely MP Wilders' unstated goal; he understands his blasphemous rhetoric (now on film) might lead to a violent response, but therein is his primary objective. He can then point at the violence his insensitive and intolerant work has created and tell the Dutch people that the Qur'an engenders violence.

The Qur'an is such a Holy Book that Muslims are willing to fight for it and defend it. It is the foundation of a world religion, with more than 1.5 billion adherents across the globe. If MP Wilders is willing to offend 1.5 billion people in defense of the "freedom of expression," then is there any surprise that the offended people want to defend their own belief system?

What the world needs today, perhaps more than ever, is for all groups to realize that we are all humans who must learn to coexist peacefully in this limited world of ours. Extremists on all sides utilize all types of excuses and propaganda to push forth their hidden agendas, none of which will lead to the harmonization of human relations. The Dutch government has a difficult choice to make: allow extremist MP Wilders to broadcast his inflammatory film under the guise of protecting the freedom of expression, or forbid the film's broadcast in the interests of public order and the harmonization of human relations.

By choosing the latter, the Dutch government will undoubtedly win many allies in the Muslim community, the vast majority of whom are peace-loving, law-abiding citizens, both in their home countries and abroad.

Garowe Online Editorial, editorial@garoweonline.com