The cartoon controversy

Neil Payne, February 2006

This is a commentary of a SIETAR member and English Mulsim on the burning issue of the Muhammed cartoons.

No sooner had I penned together an article together for the SIETAR magazine on the subject of Western-Islamic relations than yet another critical incident emerges which tests this already strained relationship. As usual, the media has focused in on the extreme and therefore news-worthy elements of this debate, depriving the middle ground of a voice. Given the topic of SIETAR’s magazine I felt it was necessary to try and regain some of that middle ground.

Unless you do not watch TV or read the newspapers you will have come across the issue of “the cartoons”. The controversy started when a Danish newspaper, Jyllands-Posten, published twelve cartoon drawings depicting the Prophet Muhammed. The cartoons portrayed the Prophet in a very bad light. One showed him wearing a bomb-shaped turban and another portrayed him as a knife-wielding maniac sparking fury in Islamic countries. These were then re-printed by other European newspapers as a sign of solidarity for the principle of freedom of speech.

In the cross cultural field we occasionally come across mistakes, blunders or gaffes that have huge consequences due to a lack of cultural awareness. The cartoon is rapidly growing to become the mother of all blunders. Danish and Norwegian business in the Middle East and Islamic world has all but ceased; as a result Danes have lost their jobs; some Arab governments have withdrawn their diplomats; riots and demonstrations have hit many streets including Afghanistan, Somalia, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria and Indonesia.

In this article I would like to address a few issues. Firstly, what is all the fuss about? Why have Muslims reacted so badly? Secondly, would curtailing the press’s freedom to publish such material be right? Lastly, has the reaction to the cartoons in fact been “Islamic”?

Reactions and opinions have been mixed since the row erupted. However a common observation over the cartoons relates to whether the cartoons are really that offensive. Why have Muslims reacted this way? It was just a joke. Incorrectly the media has stated that Muslim reaction is due to the fact the Prophet was pictorially represented and that this is banned in Islam. Of many opinions within Islamic jurisprudence regarding this subject, the majority of scholars have agreed that to pictorially represent any prophet including Moses, Abraham, Jesus and Muhammad is wrong. So, possibly some Muslims have taken objection to this. However, if this is the sole reason behind their anger it would be unfounded as Islamic law is only binding on Muslims. Obviously the Danish newspaper would not fall under this category.

Most media observation, for some reason, seems to ignore the real reason many Muslims, including myself find the cartoons offensive, hurtful and rather confrontational. Unless you are religious it may be difficult to understand that to Muslims the Prophet Muhammad is more beloved to us than our own families and our own lives. We pray for him and think of him every day; we strive to follow many of his sayings, behaviours and habits (sunnah). He is to us a father, teacher, guide, friend and prophet. As Muslims we also know that what he did was pure, good and honourable. Therefore to see him portrayed as a suicide bomber and ridiculed in such a manner is hurtful beyond belief. Firstly, what he is accused of being through the cartoons is untrue. If a similar cartoon was drawn of a living being, the newspaper could be sued for libel. The Prophet does not have that liberty. Secondly, in the current political climate these cartoons have been taken to heart even more by Muslims. To many this is further proof that the West has an Islamaphobic agenda.. The recent news that the newspaper’s editor rejected cartoons of Jesus from the same illustrator because he thought they would cause offense adds to this perception. It is for these two reasons that Muslim reaction has been so vociferous.

The Muslim reaction has been well documented. Demonstrations have turned ugly and as usual people have let their emotions get the better of them. Within Europe this has developed into a debate on the issue of the freedom of speech and specifically the press. So should we have laws in place to prevent such incidents occurring again?

My response would be ‘no’. European values are built on the freedom of speech. This freedom of speech, as long as it does not cause harm to others, is precious and should be protected. As Muslims living in Europe these values must be honoured and upheld. Millions of young men did not die in trenches so that the fundamental values they were fighting for could be overturned by a group of people feeling offended. The Danish newspaper editor had and still has the right to publish those cartoons. It is exactly this same right to freedom of speech and expression that allows millions of Muslims in Europe to build mosques, hold prayer meetings, go on demonstrations and express their religious identity. If Muslims in Europe want to continue with their freedom of expression they must also allow the rest of society to also do so and be mature enough to handle it when they face such situations.

The last point I would like to address from a Muslim perspective is whether the reaction was actually in line with Islamic principles. My and many other Muslims’ feelings are that those reacting in such a hostile and uncouth manner have failed to follow the teachings of the man whose honour they are so concerned to protect. To illustrate this, the following story from the Prophet’s life will suffice:

In the early years of Islam the Prophet took his message to the people of a town called Taif. Upon hearing his calling the tribal leaders mocked and ridiculed him. As a farewell send-off they arranged for children and slaves to hurl abuse, mock and throw stones at him. He was stoned so severely that blood poured from his sandals. His companion urged him to ask God to curse them but instead he prayed for their guidance and mercy.

If the Prophet himself, facing ridicule and physical hurt acted in such a way many Muslims are asking why sections of the Muslim community are not following in his footsteps. The fact is they should, any many are, but as usual the misguided fringe elements that make good TV viewing are given the centre stage.

By way of conclusion Europe must stand firm in upholding its basic rights and freedoms but at the same time it must be aware that the world is a very different place. It is smaller, more interdependent and much more intercultural. Freedom of speech is fine, but it must and should always be conducted in a responsible and considered manner. I have no idea if the editor of that newspaper was being malicious or ignorant when he allowed the publication of those cartoons, but one thing is for certain, a simple bit of cross cultural awareness could have gone a very long way.