When Free Speech is “Blasphemy”, Political Correctness and Intolerance…….
“GENEVA — Muslim nations seek ban on blasphemy. Four years after cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad set off violent protests, Islamic nations are mounting a campaign for an international treaty to protect religious symbols and beliefs from mockery — essentially a ban on blasphemy that would put them on a collision course with free-speech laws in the West. Pakistan have taken the lead in lobbying to bring the proposal to a vote in the U.N. General Assembly. If ratified in countries that enshrine freedom of expression as a fundamental right, such a treaty would require limits on free speech that could seriously offend religious believers.………The countries that form the 56-member Organization of the Islamic Conference are lobbying a little-known Geneva-based U.N. committee to agree that a treaty protecting religions is necessary…… The proposal may have some support in the General Assembly. For several years the Islamic Conference has successfully passed a nonbinding resolution there condemning "defamation of religions." If the treaty were approved, any of the U.N.'s 192 member states that ratified it would be bound by its provisions. Other countries could face criticism for refusing to join. The Obama administration in October came out strongly against efforts by Islamic nations to bar the defamation of religions, saying the moves would restrict free speech…….. In a separate submission, Pakistan proposed extending the treaty against racism to require signatories to "prohibit by law the uttering of matters that are grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion." "It would, in essence, advance a global blasphemy law," said Felice Gaer, a member of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom…………” Seattle Times
The oligarchs who rule most Muslim countries already largely ban any criticism of the rulers as a form of “national” blasphemy. One can go to jail, be put to death, or exiled for speaking against the autocrats. Egyptian journalists were put on trial a few months ago for suggesting that President Mubarak (82+ years old) may not be healthy. In Saudi Arabia, one never ever criticizes the king openly (or not openly). It is unheard of, and if anyone has been brave enough to do it in-country, I have never heard of him, probably because he has vanished for good. The same is true all over the region. Khomeini could not be publicly criticized in Iran either, not if one knew what was good for him or her.
Now they are impinging on a very important right of expression. By the regulations of most Muslim ulema, Prophets cannot be depicted in film or any art: that is considered blasphemy. All copies of historic Hollywood films will be considered blasphemy and banned (many of them are lousy and probably deserve it). All writings that are unapproved about anyone from Abraham, through Jesus, to the companions of the Prophet Mohammed will be considered blasphemy and banned around the world, just as they are now banned from most Muslim countries of the Middle East.
It will be the silly age of international political correctness.
I have a better idea: let’s have a new international law on religious tolerance and freedom. Mosques (Sunni and Shi’a), churches, synagogues, and temples of all faiths can be allowed to be freely built in any country. Be it Switzerland, Afghanistan, or Saudi Arabia. Nobody will be hassled for arriving at an airport carrying a copy of the Quran, the Bible, the Torah, Das Kapital, or Sarah Palin’s Confessions.. Would not that be much better?
Cheers
mhg
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11/21/2009 4:31 AM
BloggersBase Politics & Opinions wrote:
Mohammed Haider Ghuloum PhD. quotes an AP Article from the Seattle Times about the OIC's campaign to impose Islamic blasphemy laws upon us. He then gives a good analysis of the problem, only to...
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