Sir, Islamic outrage against the insult to their prophet cannot be viewed simply through the lens of Western value systems (freedom of speech, etc) and Western attitudes to religions such as Christianity.

The Western press does have limits of what is not deemed acceptable including child pornography, carnage and public executions etc. Some of these are covered by governmental restrictions and others are dealt with voluntarily in the interests of what is called public taste.

Difficult as it may seem to the West to see cartoons of Muhammad as being outrageous and unacceptable, it is obvious that the Islamic world also has limits of public taste. It’s just that these happen to be different to those of the West. The principle is not, therefore, about freedom of speech, but of the right of cultures to defend a common idea of public acceptability: a right which we clearly share and should respect.

It is not only extremists who are demanding apologies but also moderates, including heads of state. The net effect of both the cartoons, and more particularly the reaction of the Western press on this so-called matter of principle, is further alienation, confirmation to the Muslim “don’t knows” that the West has embarked on a “crusade”, and that the terrorism has been fully justified. This has happened against a backdrop of the war in Iraq, the success of Hamas in the Palestinian election, and the instabilities in Afghanistan, not to mention the large, disenfranchised Muslim populations of European countries.

An apology is not about caving into terrorism or threats. It is a simple, respectful acknowledgement to the Muslim moderates that we did not fully understand the limits of “public taste”, and that as a collection of free democracies, we have the maturity and humility to admit it.

KEN SLAVEN
Madrid

Sir, Muslims are offended at caricatures of Muhammad. They claim it is incitement to hatred. Truly, what would offend Muhammad more: occasional caricatures of himself in some Western press? Or pictures of Islamic gunmen, masked and holding automatic rifles appearing almost daily in the press around the world? They say there are millions of Muslims now ready to die to defend their faith. Do they really believe that Muhammad would approve of suicide bombers blowing up innocent people as “defending” him and their religious beliefs?

Is not this hysterical violent overreaction to a few cartoons doing more damage to Islam than the cartoons themselves? To have ignored them in a dignified manner would have shown wisdom, as I am sure Muhammad would have done.

RONNIE CARROLL
North Walsham, Norfolk

Sir, The cartoons that sparked the latest worldwide unrest among Muslims were deliberately provocative and knowingly insulting. However, the flag-burning and violence with which Muslims across the Islamic world have responded exposes where the clash of civilisations actually lies.

It is not a belief in a different diety or path to God but a different approach to intellectual scrutiny. Like the predominant threat against our Western ideals throughout much of the last century, namely Communism, orthodox Islam and its extremist expression, Islamism, is intolerant of dissent, looking to and justifying its ideas and beliefs on the basis of an ultimate authority that cannot be questioned. By contrast, ideas in the West are accepted by submitting them to public scrutiny and criticism.

If we are to encourage mutual understanding, a very prominent platform should be given by all areas of the media to those voices from within the Muslim community who challenge this interpretation of Islam. This, more than anything else, will help to promote democracy and freedom throughout the world at this time.

DR JOHN HAYWARD
Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Sir, The leading article and letters on the controversy between Islam and the press assume that religion is essentially about ideas, beliefs and practices. This, however, overlooks the fact that the power of Islam and, for that matter, Christianity arises out of a relational truth derived from the person of Muhammad or Jesus Christ.

Religion does not simply reside in the head or in our ethical disposition towards our neighbours. It is profoundly a matter of the heart predicated on obedience and submission. That we find this hard to grasp or understand suggests to me a judgment on our own impaired religious sensibilities in the West rather than the integrity or coherence of two great world faiths

THE REV DR ROD GARNER
Southport, Lancs

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