Media coverage of the Paris shootings is typical of previous incidents involving Islam and free speech in the West. Much of it has veered between the misleading, sensationalist and absurd - such as a terrorism expert on Fox News branding Birmingham a Muslim-only city. Journalists have jumped on the Je Suis Charlie bandwagon. Many would never condone Charlie Hebdos content, so why self-identify with the magazine? One can condemn the murder of its staff without embracing what it stands for. The media seems reluctant to investigate the causes of radicalism that lead to such attacks, as if doing so implies justification. Thus, there is little discussion about Muslim alienation in France and elsewhere in Europe. The result is a simplistic discourse of Islam versus free speech. The latter is naively portrayed as absolute and non-negotiable, emboldening racist elements of society when European far-right sentiment is increasing. In France - and other European states - it is a crime to deny the Holocaust, but not other genocides. Muslims are disproportionately surveilled. Wearing religious signs or clothing in schools is forbidden, as is the face veil in public places, and Islamic prayers in the streets. The media has largely glossed over such limitations in France and other countries that claim unrestricted free expression. Also largely absent, though crucial, is acknowledgement of the double standards in applying free speech. In my 10 years as head of a British media watchdog, it has become clear that Muslims are often described in derogatory ways that are unacceptable regarding other communities. The effect that the right to offend has on minorities compared with wider society is not addressed. A minority facing discrimination and disenfranchisement will feel existentially threatened, and be potentially radicalised, when the majority exercises its right to offend. The status of society at large is not at risk when the situation is reversed. This right is portrayed as a cornerstone of western values, while tolerance and respect - values that have attracted many immigrants, and are crucial in multicultural societies - are touted as appeasement. To uphold the right to gratuitously offend, without any sense of responsibility that should accompany freedom of expression, is childish, even dangerous. What point is proven by doing so? A foundation of journalism is awareness that with power comes responsibility, but many journalists in democracies forget how influential their profession is on public opinion and politicians. aljazeera/indepth/opinion/2015/01/islam-free-speech-what-so-funny-201511345039925211.html
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 17:51:09 +0000
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