Free Speech or Double Standards?
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Yes to free speech, no to double standards, but we expect more from our leaders than the bare minimum that the law demands.
On March 6, 2001 the European Court of Justice ruled that "the European Union can lawfully suppress political criticism of its institutions and of leading figures, sweeping aside English Common Law and 50 years of European precedents on civil liberties."
A challenge in 1990 to the publication of Salman Rushdie's "The Satanic Verses" on the grounds that it contained "a blasphemous libel concerning Almighty God (Allah) the Supreme Deity common to all the major religions of the world" was rejected because Britain's blasphemy law was restricted to "scurrilous vilification of the Christian religion."
A Paris court on February 27, 1998, fined French philosopher Roger Garaudy $40,000 for statements made in his 1996 book "The Founding Myths of Israeli Politics." The European Court of Human Rights declared inadmissible his appeal lodged in the case of Garaudy v. France.
Ernst Zundel, Germar Rudolf and David Irving are serving time in jail in Europe for their views about the holocaust. Why doesn't the press support Zundel's, Rudolf's, Irving's, or Garaudy's right to free speech.
Would a U.S. president invite Zundel, Rudolf, Irving, or Garaudy to dinner at the White House as then President Clinton did with Salman Rushdie?" I think not.
We understand that changes to the Patriot Act sought by President Bush would make illegal at certain gatherings signs that have not been previously approved.
Yes, Muslim demonstrations may not be effective, but they are understandable. Muslims are fed up with the double standards, the constant attacks on Islam, and their virtual exclusion from mainstream debate.
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Civil society requires more than merely observing the law. Language acceptable in a novel, is not acceptable in the communications from society's leaders - be it a newspaper, corporation or state.
Enver Masud is founder of The Wisdom Fund, and the recipient of the 2002 Gold Award from the Human Rights Foundation for his book The War on Islam.
Category: World Affairs
Topics: Anti-Semitism, Europe, European Union, Freedom Of Speech, Salman Rushdie
Views:5372
Topics: Anti-Semitism, Europe, European Union, Freedom Of Speech, Salman Rushdie
Views:5372
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Older Comments:
DOIN PHINE said:
To Hudd, thanks for further insults. Au contraire, I have learned alot since visiting this site, and find it invaluable to my understanding. I guess you want to kick me off the site, good luck ;-).
2006-02-11
ABU KHALIL FROM NORWAY said:
To Hudd,AC,Zenidine and all you wonderful brothers and sisters out there; please, let us remember we are followers of the greatest teacher of mankind, but even to him(saw),Allah has said:
"As to those who reject Faith, it is the same to them whether you warn them or you do not warn them they will not believe. Allah has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing, and on their eyes is a veil. Great is the penalty they incur" (Quran:2:6-7)
The true light of guidance can be put in the heart only by Allah. Let us not waste our precious time and energy anymore with the likes of Done Phine. May Allah continue to guide and protect us all. Aamin!
"As to those who reject Faith, it is the same to them whether you warn them or you do not warn them they will not believe. Allah has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing, and on their eyes is a veil. Great is the penalty they incur" (Quran:2:6-7)
The true light of guidance can be put in the heart only by Allah. Let us not waste our precious time and energy anymore with the likes of Done Phine. May Allah continue to guide and protect us all. Aamin!
2006-02-10
HUDD FROM CANADA said:
Doin Phine, you lie! You are not here to learn about Islam. You are here to bash Islam, everybody can see that. I do not retaliate by throwing insults. I simply dispise you and talk to you as such. .. Bully for you, you believe in Nitzsche, I believe in God, see the differnce? Karl Marx? The father of Communism and implicitly, modern atheism, congratulations. You don't realize that all these "great" philisophers and artists you quote from are of no value to us Muslims. We have our atheists and rejectors of faith that were far more articulate than your confused philosophers that stated a carload of crap with no rationale whatsoever for the sobre man. Like I said before, come out from the closet and spit out what is your real intention on this website. Don't you see? You have no followers here, you just anger everybody with the purpose to create discord. Try you tricks next door, the Zionist site. Good luck!
2006-02-10
UM SAFIYA FROM USA said:
An excellent and informative article. Why are these facts not talked about in the media? Where is the so called freedom of speech and freedom of expression? When double standards are applied and when there is cut and paste type of media reporting then it will loose credibility.
The Danish Prime Minister refused to meet with 11 Muslim ambassadors.
Rose Fleming apologized on TV for his irresponsible agenda to demonize our beloved Prophet Muhammad may peace be upon him, and on the other hand he continues to give permission to newspapers in other European countries to print the cartoon.
If you want to know more about Rose Fleming the editor who commissioned the cartoons please go to web site www.mathaba.net. If one wants to know more about the detail of how it began then one need to find out more about the real culprit the real truth. The media is twisting and creating an atmosphere of confusion rather than reporting the facts.
An excellent and informative article. Why are these facts not talked about in the media? Where is the so called freedom of speech and freedom of expression? When double standards are applied and when there is cut and paste type of media reporting then it will loose credibility.
The Danish Prime Minister refused to meet with 11 Muslim ambassadors.
Rose Fleming apologized on TV for his irresponsible agenda to demonize our beloved Prophet Muhammad may peace be upon him, and on the other hand he continues to give permission to newspapers in other European countries to print the cartoon.
If you want to know more about Rose Fleming the editor who commissioned the cartoons please go to web site www.mathaba.net. If one wants to know more about the detail of how it began then one need to find out more about the real culprit the real truth. The media is twisting and creating an atmosphere of confusion rather than reporting the facts.
2006-02-10
HUDD FROM CANADA said:
Doin Phine, what do you want? AC,Zinedine and many others tried to knock sense into you in so much that a guy in the fits of drug withdrawal would have got it! Not you. Why? Because you have a hidden agenda. You know how I know? There are people that honestly believe what they say and when confrunted then they see or realize the benifit of the other person's thought. Like Sirius for instance. But you and Romesh and some other .. on this website they just go,bla,bla,bla and blue,blue,blue and nye,nye,nye. You just occupy precious web space with your dementia which nobody is interested in. It's time for you to sign off ... Remember this. Muslims arrived in North America a long time ago. Not all Muslims are FOB's. (F=fresh,O=off,B=boat)So you have to live with them. They will not live or think like you. And you will not live and think like them. You have to respect them in order to be respected. All you do is despicable and not worthy of respect, but the Muslims a peaceful nation tolerates all your dirt that you swing about and your distorted psychic and mental challenges that you might have. All Muslims ask you is "mind of your own freaking business and leave the Muslims out of your ..lives". To you your way, to us ours! ..
2006-02-10
DOIN PHINE said:
To Abu Khalil, you make outrageous claims about me, thay you have no basis for, and no way of knowing. Just your prejudice.
When you say I hurt the feelings of Muslims, you can't be serious can you. Are Muslims like little children the moment you say something they cry, get mad and try to punch without thought. When I read comments that attack my beliefs or even me personally they don't harm me. Personal attacks are forgotten or used against the bully. Comments with intellectual value are reflected upon, so that I can better understand the world. That is why I'm here to better understand the Muslim world. I like to make comments to provoke comments and intelligent thought, however yours will not be one of those.
Freedom of speech is the right to say the objectionable. The Muslim world should understand we will not submit to the tenets of Islam, just so that we don't hurt your feelings. Just as Muslims and Islam doesn't care if it hurts the feelings of non-Muslims!!! From the Koran verse 2:39 But they who disbelieve, and deny Our revelations, such are rightful Peoples of the Fire. They will abide therein.
That verse is not nice and filled with hate towards non-Muslims!!!
When you say I hurt the feelings of Muslims, you can't be serious can you. Are Muslims like little children the moment you say something they cry, get mad and try to punch without thought. When I read comments that attack my beliefs or even me personally they don't harm me. Personal attacks are forgotten or used against the bully. Comments with intellectual value are reflected upon, so that I can better understand the world. That is why I'm here to better understand the Muslim world. I like to make comments to provoke comments and intelligent thought, however yours will not be one of those.
Freedom of speech is the right to say the objectionable. The Muslim world should understand we will not submit to the tenets of Islam, just so that we don't hurt your feelings. Just as Muslims and Islam doesn't care if it hurts the feelings of non-Muslims!!! From the Koran verse 2:39 But they who disbelieve, and deny Our revelations, such are rightful Peoples of the Fire. They will abide therein.
That verse is not nice and filled with hate towards non-Muslims!!!
2006-02-09
DOIN PHINE said:
To Hudd, the truth hurts, so you retaliate by throwing insults. I'm not the only person to be called names by you. And no I'm not a skinhead, in any way shape or form.
However I do believe in the quote of Nitzsche.
A quote from Karl Marx That I agree with, and I'm not a communist either.
"Religion is the opiate of the masses."
A final quote from Betrand Russell.
"Religion is based, I think, primarily and mainly upon fear. It is partly the terror of the unknown and partly, as I have said, the wish to feel that you have a kind of elder brother who will stand by you in all your troubles and disputes. Fear is the basis of the whole thing -- fear of the mysterious, fear of defeat, fear of death. Fear is the parent of cruelty, and therefore it is no wonder if cruelty and religion have gone hand in hand."
However I do believe in the quote of Nitzsche.
A quote from Karl Marx That I agree with, and I'm not a communist either.
"Religion is the opiate of the masses."
A final quote from Betrand Russell.
"Religion is based, I think, primarily and mainly upon fear. It is partly the terror of the unknown and partly, as I have said, the wish to feel that you have a kind of elder brother who will stand by you in all your troubles and disputes. Fear is the basis of the whole thing -- fear of the mysterious, fear of defeat, fear of death. Fear is the parent of cruelty, and therefore it is no wonder if cruelty and religion have gone hand in hand."
2006-02-09
AC FROM UK said:
TO ABU KHALIL COMMENT 35358 AND HUDD 35355;
BRAVO BROS REGARDING THE ISLAMAPHOBE DOIN PHINE.
HIS IGNORANCE (AND ARROGANCE) IS BREATH TAKING. HE QUOTES VOLTAIRE WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT THIS MAN STOOD FOR, SAME AS THE OTHER ISLAMAPHOBE WHO I CALL DOUBTING THOMAS.
VOLTAIRE WAS A SELF OPINIONATED BIGOTED RACIST AND ISLAMAPHOBE. HE HATED ISLAM AND ITS PROPHET (PBUH). EUROPE HAS BEEN INFESTED WITH THIS DISEASE EVER SINCE THE BIRTH OF ISLAM, DURING VOLTAIRE'S TIME, AND NOW IN OUR TIME. WHERE EVER THESE EUROPEANS WENT THEY TOOK THIS DISEASE WITH THEM AND PERPETUATED IT. THERE IS AMPLE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE LIKES OF DOIN PHINE TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES ABOUT ISLAM AT ISLAMICITY.COM. BUT WILL THEY DO IT? NO! DEAF, DUMB AND BLIND, THEY WILL NOT RETURN TO THE STRAIGHT PATH. ISLAM AND MUSLIM BASHING IS MORE IMPORTANT TO THEM.
ABU KHALIL YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THIS PERSON CALLED DOIN PHINE IS TRYING TO SHOVE HIS ATHEIST MATERIALIST IDEAS DOWN OUR THROATS. HIS EVERY POST ON ALL THE ARTICLES IS A RABID RANT AGAINST THE AUTHOR OF THE ARTICLE, ISLAM AND MUSLIMS. YET, I HAVE INFORMED HIM IN MY PREVIOUS POST THAT IN ISLAM THEIR IS NO COMPULSION IN RELIGION. NO ONE IS TRYING TO CONVERT HIM TO ISLAM. TO HIM OR HER HIS OR HER WAY AND TO US MUSLIMS OUR WAY-ISLAM.
NITZSCHE--HUMM--WELL SPOTTED BROS HUDD.
THIS FATHER OF NATIONAL SOCIALISM (NAZISM) IN GERMANY IS DOIN PHNES IDEA OF A ROLE MODEL RESPONSIBLE FOR WESTERN CIVILIZATION. NO WONDER THEN THAT WESTERN CIVILIZATION HAS BEEN COMMITTING GENOCIDE AFTER GENOCIDE ON EVERY CONTINENT ON THIS PLANET!
BRAVO BROS REGARDING THE ISLAMAPHOBE DOIN PHINE.
HIS IGNORANCE (AND ARROGANCE) IS BREATH TAKING. HE QUOTES VOLTAIRE WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT THIS MAN STOOD FOR, SAME AS THE OTHER ISLAMAPHOBE WHO I CALL DOUBTING THOMAS.
VOLTAIRE WAS A SELF OPINIONATED BIGOTED RACIST AND ISLAMAPHOBE. HE HATED ISLAM AND ITS PROPHET (PBUH). EUROPE HAS BEEN INFESTED WITH THIS DISEASE EVER SINCE THE BIRTH OF ISLAM, DURING VOLTAIRE'S TIME, AND NOW IN OUR TIME. WHERE EVER THESE EUROPEANS WENT THEY TOOK THIS DISEASE WITH THEM AND PERPETUATED IT. THERE IS AMPLE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE LIKES OF DOIN PHINE TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES ABOUT ISLAM AT ISLAMICITY.COM. BUT WILL THEY DO IT? NO! DEAF, DUMB AND BLIND, THEY WILL NOT RETURN TO THE STRAIGHT PATH. ISLAM AND MUSLIM BASHING IS MORE IMPORTANT TO THEM.
ABU KHALIL YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THIS PERSON CALLED DOIN PHINE IS TRYING TO SHOVE HIS ATHEIST MATERIALIST IDEAS DOWN OUR THROATS. HIS EVERY POST ON ALL THE ARTICLES IS A RABID RANT AGAINST THE AUTHOR OF THE ARTICLE, ISLAM AND MUSLIMS. YET, I HAVE INFORMED HIM IN MY PREVIOUS POST THAT IN ISLAM THEIR IS NO COMPULSION IN RELIGION. NO ONE IS TRYING TO CONVERT HIM TO ISLAM. TO HIM OR HER HIS OR HER WAY AND TO US MUSLIMS OUR WAY-ISLAM.
NITZSCHE--HUMM--WELL SPOTTED BROS HUDD.
THIS FATHER OF NATIONAL SOCIALISM (NAZISM) IN GERMANY IS DOIN PHNES IDEA OF A ROLE MODEL RESPONSIBLE FOR WESTERN CIVILIZATION. NO WONDER THEN THAT WESTERN CIVILIZATION HAS BEEN COMMITTING GENOCIDE AFTER GENOCIDE ON EVERY CONTINENT ON THIS PLANET!
2006-02-09
HUME FROM U.S. said:
There are no significant double standards in journalism offered in this smattering of unrelated cases.
Cartoonists in the Middle East, especially Egypt, routinely feature pictures of hook nosed Jews with bags of money, yet where is the condemnation?
Videos of beheadings were featured on Islamic websites. Where were the condemnations, the threats, the boycotts, the repudiations?
In Egypt we witnessed the serialization of the forged "Protocols of the Elders of Zion" conspiracy nonsense broadcast in the middle of Ramadan to maximize the impact? Where is the condemnation?
We saw the Opening Speech by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Chairman at of the 10th Session of the Islamic Summit Conference on Oct 16, 2003 claim "We are up against a people [Jews, also referred to as "the enemy"] who think. They survived 2000 years of pogroms not by hitting back, but by thinking. They invented and successfully promoted Socialism, Communism, human rights and democracy so that persecuting them would appear to be wrong, so they may enjoy equal rights with others. With these they have now gained control of the most powerful countries and they, this tiny community, have become a world power. We cannot fight them through brawn alone. We must use our brains also." That was only a sampling.
Where was the condemnation?
"The reaction of the world shows that they [Jews] do control the world," he told the Washington Post.
Mahathir dismissed the objections of Western countries who labeled the speech anti Semitic, saying they backed the Jews and failed to protest against anti Muslim rhetoric.
Where was the condemnation?
The truth is that the only people that matter to Muslims in these episodes are other Muslims, others do not count.
Islam is showing itself to be a reactionary religion that needs to reform itself in order to earn any respect from open minded liberal people. So far it deserves none and receives none from me.
Cartoonists in the Middle East, especially Egypt, routinely feature pictures of hook nosed Jews with bags of money, yet where is the condemnation?
Videos of beheadings were featured on Islamic websites. Where were the condemnations, the threats, the boycotts, the repudiations?
In Egypt we witnessed the serialization of the forged "Protocols of the Elders of Zion" conspiracy nonsense broadcast in the middle of Ramadan to maximize the impact? Where is the condemnation?
We saw the Opening Speech by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Chairman at of the 10th Session of the Islamic Summit Conference on Oct 16, 2003 claim "We are up against a people [Jews, also referred to as "the enemy"] who think. They survived 2000 years of pogroms not by hitting back, but by thinking. They invented and successfully promoted Socialism, Communism, human rights and democracy so that persecuting them would appear to be wrong, so they may enjoy equal rights with others. With these they have now gained control of the most powerful countries and they, this tiny community, have become a world power. We cannot fight them through brawn alone. We must use our brains also." That was only a sampling.
Where was the condemnation?
"The reaction of the world shows that they [Jews] do control the world," he told the Washington Post.
Mahathir dismissed the objections of Western countries who labeled the speech anti Semitic, saying they backed the Jews and failed to protest against anti Muslim rhetoric.
Where was the condemnation?
The truth is that the only people that matter to Muslims in these episodes are other Muslims, others do not count.
Islam is showing itself to be a reactionary religion that needs to reform itself in order to earn any respect from open minded liberal people. So far it deserves none and receives none from me.
2006-02-09
ABU KHALIL FROM NORWAY said:
To Doin Phine. No Doin, it is actually people like you and those at Jllands Posten who seem to have no understanding whatsoever. You always point fingers at others accusing them of religious fanaticism,extremism and bigotry while you never seem to realise that you are in actual fact the secular fanatics,extremists and bigots trying hardest to force your perverted,materialistic false values and standards down the throats of people all over the world. You do not really have any regard for how others feel or for what they want for themselves as long as your selfish material aims are served.
2006-02-09
HUDD FROM CANADA said:
Doin Phine, if I were you I wouldn't quote from Nitzsche. He introduced the concept of "obermann" which was identified with Arya or Aryan by his biggest fan, Adolf Hitler. But who knows why you chose Nitzsche? Are you a skinhead, buddy? I had a hunch that you were, but hey, we live in a democracy. Do you think that a neo-nazi could operate unrestricted in Canada as his freedom of speach? I guess not. One reason of the many I love Canada for!
Peace and take care!
Peace and take care!
2006-02-08
DOIN PHINE said:
To Abu Khalil, you really don't understand do you. What the paper decides to publish is up to them. They published those 12 cartoons due to the fact that no artist wanted to do the drawings for a book on Islam that the Publisher wanted to do. The cartoons were commisioned to highlight the fact that artists were scared to use their right of free speech. Everything that has happened since is proof that the Newspaper was right in publishing these 12 cartoons. FREE SPEECH IS ABSOLUTE. Religion is an ideology that deserves no exemption from free speech!!!!!!
A Famous quote;
Faith means not wanting to know what is true.
-Freidrich Nietzsche, German philosopher
A Famous quote;
Faith means not wanting to know what is true.
-Freidrich Nietzsche, German philosopher
2006-02-08
ABU KHALIL FROM NORWAY said:
Talking about double standards; do you know that the same Danish paper "Yllands Posten" was in 2003 presented with a set of caricatures ridiculing Jesus Christ (which by the way Muslims would have equally resented as we believe in and respect all Prophets).The paper however, bluntly refused to publish any of the pictures on the grounds that they would hurt the feelings of Christians and provoke negetive reactions. Muslims however,according to the same paper are supposed to suppress all feelings and take the caricatures ridiculing our Holy Prophet as freedom of speech in the ultra modern secular West.
2006-02-08
DAN FROM NIGERIA said:
Little prince Harry uses a Nazi T-shirt to a party,and the whole western media condemn this.there is no freedom of expression in this.however an a negative depiction o prophet of islam is not condemned in the pretext of freedom of expression.what a double standard.
2006-02-07
DENNIS FROM UNITED STATES OF AMERICA said:
Remember, it wasnt all to long tha Yasher Arafat was invited to the White House...We had many diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Palestine invited also! Remember out of average 128 wars going on in this World, the muslims are involved in 126 of them....
Reject terriorist, I do know that not all Muslims are terriorist, but all terriorists have been Muslims....I do know there is bad n good in all major religions, including Christianity which I belong too...
Denounce all the violence radical Islam is involved with and reconize Isreals right to exist and then we can have peace and justice..
I am neither pro Jew or Muslim....both are good in principle
Sincerely Dennis
ps I have many Muslims friends...May God Bless you!
Reject terriorist, I do know that not all Muslims are terriorist, but all terriorists have been Muslims....I do know there is bad n good in all major religions, including Christianity which I belong too...
Denounce all the violence radical Islam is involved with and reconize Isreals right to exist and then we can have peace and justice..
I am neither pro Jew or Muslim....both are good in principle
Sincerely Dennis
ps I have many Muslims friends...May God Bless you!
2006-02-07
SAL XORDAGE FROM U.S said:
This has nothing to do with freedom of speech. It is the result of post 911 muslim resentment,and it was intended to offend all muslims by default and I think they have suceeded in doing so. Rediculing once's beleif in this way does not serve neither of us, so let us stop there and respect each of us's culture and beleifs.
2006-02-07
DOIN PHINE said:
Using an arguement such as this is so weak it is totally laughable. To try to take away free speech concerning Islam by giving examples of instances where free speech was not respected, in other matters, just proves the importance of free speech and we have to fight twice as hard to assure that same thing doesn't happen to the discussion of Islam. Maybe you can come up with something better next time Mr. Masud. For the West it is essential that we say what we want about Islam so that we can educate the public about Islam. Thank-you!
2006-02-07
