Sami Mahroum sees the shooting rampage at Charlie Hebdo not merely an attack on freedom of expression but a response by jihadists to a global industry of outlets dedicated to all things anti-Muslim. He says we shouldnt be surprised that a global terror organization like the Al-Qaeda retaliated, given the fact that every day journalists, bloggers, tweeters, and others regularly express all sorts of things that are offensive or provocative to Muslims. No doubt this abundance of offensiveness pesters Muslims, even though it is protected by the freedom of expression. As a European Muslim Mahroum feels very much part of every sphere of European life. He maintains Europeans suspicion of Islam is not new but the level of anti-Muslim provocation has become unprecedented recently. Mahroum points out that Muslims are actually a very small minority in all European (and Western) countries. He also doubts whether Charlie Hebdo should be lionised for its bravery, as it pokes fun at the sacred beliefs of minorities (Jews, Muslims, and gays alike). Its true that most people abstain from such provocations not because they are cowards, but because they believe, quite reasonably, that such behavior serves no good or useful purpose. Indeed, Mr. Mahroum, we believe in liberty and adopt the policy of live and let live. I personally have sympathy for Muslims outrage over the provocations, but I condemn the killings of the journalists even more! Its about the proportionality of the punishment! Its also true that more journalists are killed each year in the largely Catholic Philippines than in any Muslim-majority country. But the attacks are mostly politically motivated and the victims have all been Filipinos. Its unfortunate that the government has allowed unpunished violence against journalists to become part of the culture. Then Mahroum says: No one should presume that European Muslims must apologize or explain the actions of a terrorist organization with a cult-like religious ideology, just as no one expected Norwegians to apologize for Breivik. As Norway is his adopted country, he ought to know that the 77 people that Anders Breivik murdered in 2011 were ALL Norwegians. Why should Norwegians apologize for Breivik and to whom?
Posted on: Sun, 18 Jan 2015 21:21:00 +0000
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