Tolerance Is Preached But Not Practiced

Violence has neither favored Muslims nor precluded sympathy (Reuters photo).

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.

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.

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

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.