Freedom of speech is one of the tenets espoused by the United Nations and contained in the Universal Bill of Rights as a basic human right.
“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression,” it states. “This right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers”.
This includes the right to express one’s views vocally or through social media, broadcast or print media and art works – such as magazines and comics, amongst others.
It is, however, a fact that the right of free speech has evidently been both abused and denied. Outside officialdom, some people are using it as an avenue to defame others. Even governments use it to manipulate their populations.
However, rational thinking and reasoning must always take precedence over freedom of speech.
The greatest mistake is the one which we do not learn from. Barely a few months after the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris, France, a similar attack occurred in Garland, Texas, in the USA.
Both attacks were in response to cartoons of Prophet Muhammad. The Paris attacks were in retaliation to the publication of a cartoon of the prophet while the Garland attack was on a contest to draw what the organisers said would be “the best cartoon of Prophet Muhammad” and the venue was last week the target of an attack by Islamist militants.
Religion is now a very sensitive matter and not just to Muslims only but to other religions as Islamic militants show a growing intolerance to any other religion other than their own.
The interesting thing is that, while there is little freedom of speech or descent in Islam, the religion is taking full advantage of freedom of speech in other religions, like Christianity.
It is, however, important for us to draw the line and stop people from justifying their crude behaviour and actions while hiding behind freedom of speech and association.
“I will continue to speak in defense of freedom until the day I die,” said one Pamela Geller, the organizer of the event, speaking to the Associated Press. “It’s just that simple. It’s not even a choice. It’s a calling.”
Geller’s association, the American Freedom Defense Initiative, organised the contest to draw the cartoons knowing that Muslims consider any pictorial depiction of Muhammad ÔÇö even positive ones ÔÇö to be blasphemous.
Predictably, the IS claimed responsibility for the attack by two gunman who opened fire at the contest venue but who were both killed.
Meanwhile, Geller has been put under heavy security since the IS made a threat on her life.
I am a Christian who believes that religion is a personal matter between God and a believer. I am, however, obligated to expect that the world would, by now, have put behind itself this distasteful behaviour of often making fun of Muhammad.
Not because of fear but because of respect. On the other hand, it is also fair to hope that Moslems, whether extreme, middle of the road or whatever, respect other people’s cultures and religions as well.
Besides, so much can be achieved through dialogue without endangering the lives of those followers of our religions whose interests we seek to protect.
Driving planes full of innocent people into buildings or killing civilians to make a statement to those one does not agree with does not solve the problem in any way.
Freedom of speech is not negotiable. Reporters bring to the people what is happening and must not be faulted, let alone killed.
However, the Charlie Hebdos and Pamela Gellers of this world must also play their part in respecting certain cultural sensitivities around the world especially since they know they are free to say whatever they want to publish.
We should not hide behind freedom of speech and association in order to lampoon individuals without consideration of those who hold certain issues and peoples sacred.
Just because we can do something without the government stopping us, does not mean that we should.
Our diverse “freedoms” come with great responsibility. And responsibility includes forethought and self-restraint.
Perhaps what we all need to understand is that sometimes not doing something is actually the right choice. Not doing something does not mean our freedom to associate or freedom of speech is being restricted or violated in any way. It simply shows that we are considerate humans. If the other side do not do as we do, we must remember that our religion is different from theirs. While they might stone someone to death, we forgive and rehabilitate. The power of our religion is centered on forgiveness even though we might no longer be turning the other cheek.
Those who put on this contest knew what the results would be and they put everybody around them in danger knowing that “somebody else” would come to their rescue when things got out of hand. The people who put up this contest were not standing up for their rights; they are people who went out of their way just to provoke others and that is not acceptable. Laws of common decency should have been applied.
The Islamic militants who tried to kill people gathered obviously took advantage of the excesses of people like Geller.
Now terrorism is linked to abuse of press freedom and there is need to address this issue globally because many have lost their lives and many more will be in jeopardy.
The press are not participants but observers who collect information for the benefit of all peoples worldwide.
Freedom of speech is not a license to abuse and disrespect. It is a responsibility and, as such, should be carried out with respect.
Obviously, the gunmen who opened fire on those they disagreed with committed a criminal act far away from religion and that cannot be tolerated.
