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Tolerance Is Preached But Not
Practiced
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By Alexander
Gainem**
Freelance
Journalist – Canada
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Feb.
9, 2006
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Violence
has neither favored Muslims nor precluded sympathy (Reuters
photo).
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In
the wake of the protests and seemingly ever-widening cultural divide
between the West and Muslim countries over the malicious cartoons in
the Danish press, two crucial developments deserve closer
examination.
The
first development includes the violent outbreaks that led to the
gutting of Danish embassies in Beirut, Damascus, and, to a lesser
extent, Tehran. They also include the virtual siege of the European
Union headquarters in Palestine and the ongoing clashes between
protesters in Afghanistan, which have so far culminated in several
deaths.
The
violence has neither favored Muslim nations nor precluded sympathy.
In fact, it has directly added to Western stereotypes — often
misbegotten since the terrorist attacks of 9/11 — that Muslims are
a violent people who cannot endure or encourage dialogue.
The
acts of violence point to the notion of mob mentality, the type of
mob mentality which sacked the Senate in Ancient Rome, the type of
mob mentality which lead to lynching in the United States.
While
cherishing freedom of speech is laudable, singling out a group for
hate speech is not. |
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The
mob is carried ever onward by its passions — its angers, and its
refuelled temperament. It stops for no one. This was plainly proven
in television coverage of the Beirut havoc: Muslim clerics were
imploring the crowds to restrain themselves from wanton violence and
vandalism. In several cases, traditionally-clad Muslim clerics were
physically trying to impede the rioters dressed in Western garb, but
to no avail.
Lebanese
government officials quickly took to the air and condemned the
Beirut incidents and promptly blamed them on political incitation
from neighboring Syria.
The
officials may have stumbled onto something — the political
undertones of the protesters. In Gaza, the confusing environment
post Gaza electoral triumph is likely to have fuelled the
protesters. In Syria, the politics is much more profound — the
gutting of the embassies was more a backlash against Western
pressures on Syria than anything else. In Iran, the same holds true;
Iran is locked in a bitter war of words wit the West over the intent
of its nuclear program.
Other
countries witnessed no violence of their own. Morocco, Tunisia,
Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Somalia, Jordan, Turkey, and the
entire Arab Gulf showed remarkable restraint. Many of the
aforementioned, however, did institute formal boycotts of Danish
goods.
But
the damage has been done. The recurring audio-visuals of youth
storming embassies, looting, and vandalizing has done possibly more
harm to the Muslim community than the cartoons ever could.
Muslim
societies must realize that hate speech cannot be overcome with
more hate speech.
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Images
of British Muslims holding banners calling for the beheadings of all
who insult Islam are hardly the civilized approach to the problem.
Europe,
which had been warned that the next wave of terrorism would continue
in its heartland, cringed. Now, racial profiling and secret
detentions may not seem so Orwellian in nature for Europeans who
fear the so-called Muslim threat.
Anti-hate
Speech Legislation
The
second development is the statement issued by the US State
Department urging Arab countries to create a set of anti-hate speech
legislation. At first glance, this seems like a noble endeavour. The
Egyptian press, most notably among other Arab media, has run
cartoons portraying Jews in rather racist depictions. The US has
long sought to curb such characterization and gone to the extent of
considering withdrawing its annual $3 billion aid to Egypt.
Indeed,
if Muslims are offended by unfavorable depictions of Prophet
Muhammad, surely Jews will be offended by cartoons depicting them as
bloodsuckers of children. As would Christians of offending cartoons
of Christ, Hindus of their religion, and so on.
There
are international treaties which call for such respect between
nations and peoples.
The
United Nations entered into force the International Convention on
the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in
1969.
In
addition to other paragraphs against racial discrimination, the
Convention says it is “[r]esolved to adopt all necessary measures
for speedily eliminating racial discrimination in all its forms and
manifestations, and to prevent and combat racist doctrines and
practices in order to promote understanding between races and to
build an international community free from all forms of racial
segregation and racial discrimination …”
All
Arab countries have ratified CERD, as have countries in the EU. But
Arab countries need to enforce domestic anti-hate speech
legislations … and stick to them.
Many
Danes quietly protested at the burning of the Danish flag. “Is it
not a hate crime to burn the flag which has at its center the Cross
of Christ?” they asked.
But
their protests were ignored. Muslim societies must realize that hate
speech cannot be overcome with more hate speech.
This
week’s news that the Iranian press is holding a competition for
the best cartoon to lampoon the Holocaust during World War II is
rather disheartening.
European
Bigotry
Denmark
has a Penal Code which prohibits insulting a group of persons on
grounds of their race, colour, national or ethnic origin, or
creed. |
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But
the European press is also blamed for adding fuel to the fire.
Citing democratic principles, a French newspaper has chosen to run
the cartoons even after they were deemed offensive.
While
cherishing democratic ideals and freedom of speech is laudable,
purposefully singling out a group for hate speech is not.
European
countries have their own domestic anti-hate laws but may be applying
a virulent double standard in this case.
For
example, Denmark has a Penal Code which prohibits making
“statements or any other communication by which a group of persons
is threatened, insulted or degraded on account of their race, colour,
national or ethnic origin, or creed …”
However,
this seems to have been overlooked in the case of the cartoons
equating the Prophet Muhammad to terrorism.
Fair
minds need to prevail. Thankfully, many Muslim clerics have called
on an immediate cessation of all violent acts. Europe also needs to
reexamine its tainted past regarding minorities and ethnicities.
The
United Nations, which has held several conferences and conventions
on race and equality, has been ominously missing since the cartoons
controversy came to light. It has a positive role to play.
At
the very least, it could call for a conference on hate-speech and
help bring nations and peoples closer in understanding one another.
But
I am not holding my breath for that to happen.
**Alexander
Gainem is a freelance journalist who has written extensively on
Middle East issues
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