Man has always been searching for his personal and social freedom that defines other types of freedom including freedom of speech.
Violating freedom was a common trait in the old days. For example others’ fortunes were stolen in wars, people were turned into slaves, or children and men were kidnapped to work under rich white men. Yet the human being’s free will existed and he was free to do anything though with some restraints. What matters is that one doesn’t harm others while practicing his freedom whether in speech or action and does not cause damage to fellow human beings.
However, freedom was never absolute throughout history; in fact it was confined if it will cause harm to others. There are different restrictions and they differ from one society to another.
When Christianity, Judaism and Islam, appeared they created new restraints, which limited freedom. But the human beings respected these restraints as part of respecting one’s and other religions.
Respecting one’s religion forbade human beings from ridiculing other religions. Anyone who breaks the rule of respect toward the three revealed religions commits a crime. Christianity, Judaism and Islam complete each other and they share a lot of similarities with an emphasis on one united principle even if there are different rules and details to each one of them. Prior to Islam, slavery existed. Islam liberated slaves and it doesn’t mean that Christianity approves of it. On the contrary, Christianity is based on forgiveness and brotherhood.
If we consider two major Islamic countries, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, we see that they are more civilized than many secular countries, which lack respect for religions. Saudi Arabia is a country that is under Qur’anic obligations. The teachings of Qur’an are against racism and discrimination and they forbid ridiculing any other religion. The same is true of Egypt that follows a constitution that provides for punishment for anyone ridiculing other religions. So freedom always exists but within limits.
A Danish paper published cartoons ridiculing our Prophet (peace be upon him) and justified it in the name of freedom of expression. Many newspapers in France, Italy and Germany did the same thing. This provoked Muslim anger and resentment throughout the world. And matters became worse because of the indifferent attitude of Western leaders and politicians. If political leaders don’t act swiftly things will get out of control. The United Nations, the European Union and the Muslim World League all called for the need for peace. On the other hand, an Italian minister wanted a crusade against Muslims.
I would like to address Christians and Jews and declare to them that we, Muslims, believe in the Prophets Moses and Jesus and their messages to humanity. We respect them and we sanctify Christianity and Judaism and we never think of insulting them. The difference between understanding and faith is what differentiates Muslims from the rest of the world. This is an ideological battle that has its origin in the American accusations against Islam and Muslims after Sept. 11. They used this as a strategy to break up Muslim world.
Therefore, this is not just about cultural conflict as some writers and politicians claim. Undoubtedly, Muslims have been under attack for the past ten years, but it was an undeclared war. The war in Sudan, Afghanistan, Libya, Palestine, and now Iraq happened because of lies.
Islam has witnessed crusade attacks in the medieval era yet they all failed to break the unity and power of Muslims and Islam — just as American and Western authorities are facing failure in Afghanistan and Iraq. They ridicule Islam just to cover up their disgraceful failure. Actually this failure ridicules them.
