Lord Greaves: Let me say I am neither a Muslim nor a Christian (nor indeed a Jew) and have no affiliation to any religious group. (The nearest I can describe myself is “C of E atheist”.) I only saw this cartoon and the others you can find easily on the internet last night. I was shocked and appalled that a prominent Liberal Democrat was distributing any of them, on Twitter or anywhere else. There will be many Christians who find them distasteful as well as Muslims though most have got used to Jesus Christ appearing in a satirical way cartoons. For large numbers of mainstream Muslims they will be more than distasteful – just very nastily abusive against their religion and against their prophet Mohammed. This is just a fact. (The worst I have noticed is a drawing of “Mo’s” penis and testicles for reasons that I could not fathom). I will defend to the death the right of people to draw and distribute such material. That is not the point here. Maajid Nawaz is a parliamentary candidate for this party. What he does and says will be taken as representing the party. He knows better than most of us that these cartoons will be found insulting and abusive by most mainstream Muslims in this country. There will be leaflets handed out outside mosques in areas where we are as a party strong and active. In Pendle I expect the Labour lot will be doing this (we hear they are already planning to do so). The actions of Nawaz in putting this puerile stuff on Twitter will bring this party into disrepute. And for what reason? So he can parade himself as a campaigner for free speech? Reading this thread (at Lib Dem Voice) I get the impression that some people think it is their right and duty to go out and insult people with strong personal religious views. I really do worry about the increasing amount of intolerance and aggressive rudeness to anyone who does not agree that “anything goes” in the sphere of personal rights – in a lot of spheres, throughout society and within this party. Liberalism is about tolerating the religious and ethical views of others and making a serious effort not to insult people who hold hold such views different from one’s own, unless they are seriously illiberal. Promoting these cartoons as a prominent Liberal Democrat (as opposed to defending people’s right to publish them) is absolutely not acceptable and a fulsome apology is required.
Posted on: Tue, 28 Jan 2014 18:16:54 +0000