The knee-jerk reaction of the 17 Danish dailies, which reproduced the offensive cartoons, has in no way helped ameliorate the sad situation. The editors of the dailies have, in fact, proved to their critics that they do not trust the system in the country. Common sense says that they should have let the law take its course with regard to an alleged plot to murder the culprit-in-chief. Three suspects are in detention and no one has yet heard their side of the story. But the Danish journalists preferred to jump the gun and, in their imagination gave another blow to the “opponents” by repeating the offence this time collectively.
In the name of freedom of expression, Copenhagen wrongly gave a long rope to the Jyllands-Posten, whose despicable antics on September 30, 2005, led to an outbreak of violent protests across the Muslim world resulting in over a hundred deaths. It is surprising that the Danish government chose not to rein in the country’s troublemaking Press even after Danish embassies were set on fire in Syria, Lebanon and Iran, European buildings were stormed and the Danish, Norwegian and German flags were burnt by livid mobs. The amount of unrest world capitals witnessed in the aftermath of the affront was enough to make any level-headed journalist understand that the Posten’s mistake was a massive blunder and could be repeated at one’s own risk.
Every student of journalism knows that the red line in the context of Islam must not be crossed. Even the Israeli and Indian right-wingers and neo-conservatives in the Pentagon, who smell rat in anything remotely Islamic, have no confusion about the irreversible Muslim belief that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be with him) must not be depicted in any way. The Holy Qur’an prohibits idolatry or giving shape or form to Allah and His Messenger. They cannot be objectified. Neither the Prophet’s grave nor anything connected with him can become an object of worship. When such is the sensitivity of the issue, one has to be totally out of one’s mind to think of making offensive drawings about the Prophet.
At a time, when anti-war activists in general and Muslims in particular are deeply offended by the atrocities committed by the US-led Western forces in Afghanistan and Iraq and by prejudiced stereotypes of Islam post-9/11, the lunacy coupled with insensitivity shown by the hostile Danish Press has, once again, highlighted their unjustifiable Islamophobia. And if that is not the case, those dailies and their readers must be sadists of the first order. They saw the anguish and anger of Muslims three years ago and perhaps they took pleasure in seeing them suffer. Otherwise there was no reason to do it again. To enjoy seeing others hurt is a disease of mind.
Friday’s fury was just the beginning of a rising tide against Denmark. Kuwaiti MPs have demanded total boycott of it. Tehran summoned the Danish envoy to register its anger. Calls are growing in Pakistan to throw out the Danish envoy. Palestinians took out a massive rally to blast the vicious cartoons. Danish flags have been torched in several cities. The volatile situation may lead to random attacks on Danish tourists abroad. Some innocent people may lose their lives again. Who will be responsible?
When the freedom of the Press is turned into the freedom to suggest that Islam preaches violence and terrorism, something is definitely rotten in the state of Denmark.
The Danish Press’s attempt “to contribute to the debate regarding criticism of Islam and self-censorship,” has only lengthened the hyphenation between Islam and the West.
[The writer can be reached at tausief@hotmail.com]