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Freedom of speech that the U.S Constitution guarantees its citizens has come under fire with the recent outburst of violence in an apparent response to the release of a trailer of the film, “Innocence of Muslims” on youtube. The move maker intended to offend feelings of Muslims by depicting the Prophet of Islam and his life style in a derogatory manner and he was successful.
Freedom of speech is absolutely at the corner stones of this great nation but putting limits enforces a sensible, sensitive, respectful society. Without any rules or regulations, we are bound to become a society of moral savages. If it were not true then why would the U.S Federal Communications Commission put in place laws against Obscenity, Indecency and Profanity?
In a recent article at Atlanta Journal Constitution (Jamey Keaten, “Amid UN Debate, Models of Free Speech”, September 28th, 2012), the writer explained different examples of free speech from across the globe. According to Mr. Keaten, the French far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen “was fined €10,000 for "inciting racial hatred" for disparaging remarks against Muslims made in a 2003 newspaper interview.” In Germany, although freedom of speech is guaranteed by the constitution”, “however, "incitement of the people," defined as fomenting hatred for a segment of the population, is a crime — an effort to prevent use of tactics employed by the Nazis against the Jews.” Germany’s neighbor Austria bans Holocaust denial and a British writer served 13 months in prison under this law while “In Britain, it is illegal to use threatening language to incite racial or religious hatred” , the very reason for imprisonment of a radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri for urging Jihad against the West. So, it is a fact that there is no absolute model when it comes to freedom of speech.
Although it is true that people make fun of Jesus (Peace Be upon him) all the time in the name of free speech but just because it is done frequently and openly does not make it right. As a Muslim, I believe that being the founder of the biggest religion of the world, he deserves appropriate respect just like our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be upon him). But I also agree with some who incite reaction to the movie as an excuse for extremist leaders to start violence.
President Obama while addressing the General Assembly recently said that, "The strongest weapon against hateful speech is not repression,", "it is more speech — the voices of tolerance that rally against bigotry and blasphemy.", he added.
In response to anti-Muslim hate campaign at the subway stations in New York, “In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel. Defeat jihad”, one Jewish group and one Christian group are teaming up and doing exactly this by doing their own ad campaign “In the choice between love and hate, choose love. Help stop bigotry against our Muslim neighbors” (Ashwaq Masoodi , “Pro-Muslim Subway Ads to hang near Anti-Jihad Ads”, The New York Times, October 5th, 2012)
We have every right to be proud as a nation that people here are able to speak freely but we should also remember that unlike divine laws, any laws of a country are man made, prone to error and open for improvement. We should not let our pride come in the way of moral progress and reform. Freedom of speech is essential but all religious founders should be treated with respect. Lack of mutual respect leads to chaos and the world does not need any more chaos, bloodshed or violence. It is time to promote tolerance and peace, not hate.
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