THESE violent and hate-filled protests have harmed the name of Islam and the Holy Prophet far more than the cartoons themselves (These cartoons don’t defend free speech, Comment and Focus, last week).
While as a Muslim I am saddened that such drawings were printed and then reproduced, the response of the so-called followers of Islam worldwide has upset me. These people should understand that Islamic teaching holds ideas of peace, love, tolerance and forbearance just as sacredly as the concept of upholding the honour of God or any of His noble Prophets.
Arif Khan
New Malden, Surrey
NOT FUNNY: Louis Wise’s review of Jerry Springer — The Opera (Culture) states: “The show’s only crime is to put everything into context.” Does that mean that the publication of cartoons ridiculing the Prophet Muhammad is okay so long as the “context” is okay? This is another way of saying, “Don’t be offended — I was only joking”, the ultimate excuse of the liberal idea that you can ridicule anything or offend anyone in the name of free speech.
Christians may have had the nerve to protest to the BBC (rather than burn down any embassies) for showing Jerry Springer — but it is interesting to compare the lack of response to these complaints with the haste with which Auntie apologised for showing fleeting glimpses of the cartoons.
The conclusion can only be that lines in this issue are drawn according to the fear of reprisal rather than due consideration for offence caused.
The Rev Tim Storey
Rector, Blandford Forum and Langton Long, Dorset
STOP ALL BLOODSHED: In this ever worsening “clash of civilisations” one can only be revolted by the provocation of the now sadly famous cartoons.
However, there are good reasons to be disappointed by the Muslim community. Millions of Europeans, in politics as well as in the media, have stood up against the ever-growing influence of the extreme right, to defend the “multicultural model” and to fight for respect towards our Muslim brothers.
Since September 11, 2001 we have waited for the Muslim community to take a clear stance against Islamist fundamentalism and terrorism that kills thousands of innocent people every year.
It is difficult to understand a “Muslim soul” that is more hurt and insulted by a little ink on paper than it is by all the blood spilt in the name of Allah, the Prophet and the Koran.
Raphaël Van Goubergen
Kampenhout, Belgium
INK BLOT: It is just plain stupid and accomplishes nothing to ridicule other people’s religious beliefs. No decent human being can defend such irresponsible “freedom of speech”. We should not have censorship but the media should voluntarily decline to publish such hateful cartoons or any other such expression. What purpose did it serve to publish them?
Murray Brill
Athens, Greece
CULTURE CLASH: What we have is a clash of cultures, which is about toleration and our particularly English inclination to mock anything or anybody in authority, religious or otherwise. Immigrants should be prepared to accept this in a majority culture.
The responsibility of a government is to evaluate the cultural differences and be sure immigrants understand and agree to conform before settling here. The government has failed in its responsibility towards immigrants and us.
R Fletcher
Ruthin, Denbighshire
BANDWAGON: The West should not dismiss the level of offence that Muslims endure when any prophet of God is humiliated or mocked in such a way, be it Muhammad, Jesus, Moses, Abraham, Krishna or Buddha. If indeed we claim to be a civilised people, then we must respect the religious sensitivities of all people.
However, we are no less appalled by the disgraceful way that some politically-motivated publicity seeking so-called Muslims have behaved. Let us hope that common sense prevails on all sides in this debate.
Mubashar Ahmed
Southall, Middlesex
CROWD CONTROL: It’s not all about free speech, it’s about religion. A religion is a method of crowd control. It enables wise old blokes in long beards to tell inexperienced young folk how to live, and it’s a splendid social tool so long as the wise old bods are as wise and benevolent as they claim. The problem arises when they are not.
Within living memory it has been impermissible to sleep with someone without someone else’s God’s permission, to have an abortion because someone else’s God disapproves and it’s still impossible to receive the blessing of euthanasia when old and miserable, largely because someone else’s God thinks it’s a bad idea.
And now we can’t look at cartoons because it makes someone else’s God grumpy and violent?
John Ledbury
Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
APOLOGY IN ORDER? As a European, can I demand an apology for the abuse hurled at all Europeans on the placards of Muslims during their protests?
Maeve Strachan
Esher, Surrey
POKING FUN: All leaders and institutions must be open to criticism and ridicule lest they lose touch with reality.
While these principles tend to find general acceptance in secular affairs it is not so when it comes to religion. This is a tragedy seeing as every mullah and iman, prophet and pope, rabbi and bishop, medicine man and witchdoctor claims to have a direct line to “God” and then proceeds to dictate how to live our lives from cradle to grave.
We in Ireland are only too aware of the tragic consequences of uncritical adulation of our bishops and priests.
Dick Keane
Glenageary, Co Dublin
WORKING TOGETHER: Freedom of expression and religious tolerance need not be mutually exclusive. Thank you Simon Jenkins for putting it so succinctly.
Marie-Claire Dibbern
Kelso, Scottish Borders
SILENT PROTEST? I am appalled that Muslims have come out in such numbers to condemn the cartoons; where were they condemning the London bombings in such numbers?
Nathan Hall
Amesbury, Wiltshire
NOTE OF ANGER: I note the call from a Muslim cleric for a day of anger. I cannot remember any such call after the July bombs in the name of the Prophet and Islam. Does this mean that taking the name of Islam to justify terrorism is less serious than insulting the Prophet? Would it be too arrogant to suggest that Muslims publicly show that they do not support such fanaticism?
Ken Pollock
Great Witley, Worcester
UNDERSTANDING: Having lived and worked in Muslim countries since 1967, I find the West has a total insensitivity and an assumption that everyone in the world must surely approach everything in the western way. If they don’t, it is just necessary to point out their error and they will change. There is a refusal to understand that, for better or worse, Islam is a complete religion and system of life and of government.
Bob Cranmore
Lancing, West Sussex
WELL PRINTED: We need more writers such as Jenkins to clarify the hard long road between cultures and nations.
Siham Kamal
Cairo, Egypt
