Freedom costs...

The recent debacle around the South Park episode which led to disturbing violent threats against its creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, also resulted in a protest event which sought to attract as many people as possible to draw the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. The publicity for the event sparked enough outrage to cause a temporary restriction to Facebook and Youtube in Pakistan.

This particular episode is the most recent to make me wonder why many people so readily want to hurt and step on the sensitivities of another. For Muslims it was less about the ‘artwork’ but more about the militant irresponsible and baseless fear of Islam and Muslims that has led to explosive tirades against it in the last 10 years all in the name of freedom of speech. What is considerably worrying is the fact that such tirades against a significant portion of Europe are accepted.

Could it be accepted because Islam is seen as a threat to liberal values and Muslims seen as a potential threat to political values? Often in some contexts it is less about Islam and more about the origins of a moral code being in a divine faith based system and not in a secular a-religious one. Islam remains a bastion of a moral code which prohibits drinking alcohol, taking recreational drugs, sexualisation of society and more contrary to the social norms, for the sake of having a sober mind and a strong, secure family unit.

Due to the fact that Islam does not allow for a compromise on its values, or more correctly the expression of its values, for instance, a Muslim dressing in a certain way or Muslims not sharing in social activities which to them could possibly open doors to a potential violation of their principles, or the principles of another human being, Muslims are often seen and thus charged as not willing to integrate and Islam thus charged with not being able to integrate. This leads to Islamophobic sentiments being palatable by the greater society.

Right now it is Islam that is seen to be insidiously challenging social ideals to an ever growing hedonistic but a certainly damaged society which will make advocates of it from within its own body of followers and those who are not threatened by it, a target by those who have an antipathy towards it.

The intent behind the title of this piece ‘Freedom costs...’ is to provoke thought as to whether we are truly free. In a subtly structured world, a structure not necessarily set by you or me but by a ‘normative’ political culture and a popular urbanised culture in an ever imposing globalised world which is careful not to criticise or discuss the legitimacy of the state of Israel, or sexual profligacy as being a factor to a broken morality in a society which ironically lauds the progression of women, we certainly have freedom of speech but can it be at the cost of our place in it?

One could argue strongly that freedom costs our place within it, that is our ability to remain within the parameters of acceptable dialogue and debate. Something that Nelson Mandela, Malcolm X, Aung San Suu Kyi did not do or haven’t done and Musa A.S, Isa A.S, and Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, did not do.

What should then set the tone of impassioned speeches and articles about a particular subject matter, whether it is about ‘extremist’ Muslim students or an alien Muslim culture which is threatening to dominate Europe with the Qur’an in one hand and the burqa in another? One would imagine writers owe themselves and their readers or viewers an intellectual rigour that can be respected and thus appreciated, setting clear parameters of debate. Anything less than this, and the strength of our words will create a dissension within our communities that will serve neither of us, and we will thus look at the make-up of our localities as “us” and “them”. Islam places much emphasis on this.

Islam does not restrict freedom of speech, Islamic history is littered with revolutionary philosophical and theological thought which for the most part was welcomed and tolerated. However, in terms of our etiquette in presenting an argument there is much to be learned. The Prophet peace and blessings be upon him said “Whosoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, then let him speak good (khair) or remain silent”, the emphasis of this advice being on the risk our mere words can have on another person’s sentiment and how easily our words can create discord amongst people. The Quran itself states the following, “No good is there in much of their private conversation, except for those who enjoin charity or that which is right, or bring reconciliation between people. And whoever does that seeking Allah's pleasure, then we shall grant him a great reward." Surah An-Nisa: 114.

These are simply two examples, often ignored by Muslims who also make false charges against others, speaking crudely and basing accusations on conjecture without a proper investigation. One wonders how on earth are Muslims able to be the best of all nations, brought forth for mankind, to forbid what’s wrong and command what is right (Surah Al-Imran: 110)? Or is this mere poetry?