The January 7, 2015 massacre at the premises of the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo aroused ambivalent feelings in many Muslims. While condemning the attack and completely distancing themselves from it, they found it difficult to express solidarity with the staffers of the weekly that had published cartoons mocking the Prophet Muhammad, and even identified with the anger at the weekly's insults to the Prophet.
This ambivalence was clearly evident in the discourse that emerged in the Arab press following the attack. Several articles claimed that even though the attack was despicable and unacceptable, Charlie Hebdo should also be condemned for publishing the cartoons; some even went so far as to say that the weekly was partially to blame for it. The writers argued that free speech does not mean the freedom to insult religions and offend the believers. Some of them pointed to the contrast between the West's harsh censure of Holocaust deniers and its sanction of insults to the Prophet, calling this hypocrisy.
On the other hand, liberal Arab columnists argued that the attack must be unequivocally condemned, in the harshest of terms, with no "buts." They said that not even insulting Islam and the Prophet Muhammad could justify such a crime; some added that any attempt to justify the attack was as bad as, or worse than, the deed itself, because Islam forbids murder.
Condemnation For The Attack - And Also For The Insult To The Prophet Muhammad
Egyptian Writers: The Ones Responsible Are Not Only The Terrorists But Also Those Who Insulted The Prophet
Ahmad Mustafa Salama, columnist for the official Egyptian daily Al-Ahram, wrote: "I condemn the events in Paris due to the criminal murder of the journalists. But I am not Charlie [i.e. not part of the 'Je Suis Charlie' solidarity campaign], for two reasons: One, because the newspaper did not respect the sentiments of Muslims and the tenets of their faith, publishing insulting cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. It was already known what the reaction would be, because a Danish cartoonist's publication of insulting cartoons incurred the wrath of Muslims worldwide..."[1]
Another Al-Ahram columnist, Hassan Abu Taleb, also partially blamed Charlie Hebdo. He wrote: "We cannot justify or accept the slaughter and terrorism. But the responsibility lies not only with the terrorists, but also with those who create terrorists, incite hostility, provoke others, and inveigh against their religion and their Prophet in the name of freedom of speech and expression. Isn't moral and mental harm more powerful than physical harm[?]..."[2]
Lebanese Writer: Charlie Hebdo Members Are No Less Terrorists Than The Murderers
Lebanese journalist Kamal Kobeissi rejected the argument that the cartoons constituted free speech, stating that Charlie Hebdo's writers and cartoonists were no less terrorists than those who had carried out the attack: "Charlie - we oppose you because you are a terrorist and because you fill people with resentment and hostility. As a result, they fall upon you with weapons and terrorism, harming us [Muslims]. We also oppose you terrorists who carry weapons and murder innocents - you and Charlie are just the same."[3]
The Charlie Hebdo cartoonists provoked the hornets (Arabi21.com, January 9, 2015)
Why Is It OK To Insult Religion - But Not OK To Doubt The Holocaust?
Some writers discussed restrictions on free speech, stating that insulting Islam and the Prophet Muhammad must not be permitted under it. Many argued that the West, and France in particular, were being hypocritical about free speech, because while insulting Islam and Muhammad in them were allowed, asking questions about the magnitude of the Holocaust was not, and those who did so were arrested. Thus, for example, 'Abd Al-Bari 'Atwan, editor of the London daily Rai Al-Yawm, wrote: "Yes, we are all Charlie Hebdo and oppose [the use of] violence, murder, and terrorism in place of dialogue and peaceful expression. But we voice a resounding 'no' to [the weekly's] positions that insult the Prophet Muhammad and 1.5 billion Muslims, and to its incitement against Muslims and all immigrants. The weekly, its editor, and its cartoonists know full well that over 500 Muslims were killed in protests against the publication of cartoons insulting the Prophet Muhammad; [nevertheless], they published [such cartoons] again, [aiming to] provoke and to challenge...
"Since 2006, the weekly has repeatedly published such cartoons, and others, in an attempt to provoke those who protest against it. Is this 'free speech?' We understand... publishing [these cartoons] once or twice. But when it becomes a long series of humiliation and provocation - it is totally unacceptable. This, alongside our opposition to the murder of the weekly's editors and cartoonists in response [to the publication of the cartoons]. For the thousandth time, we say that this is not a matter of free speech..."
'Atwan continued: "Many European countries consider any attempt to deny the Holocaust or question the number [of victims] as a crime punishable by seven years in prison... Is the Holocaust more sacred than the Prophet, who represents more than 1.5 billion Muslims? ..."[4]
The London-based Qatari daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi also complained that Holocaust denial is criminalized in France, while mocking religions is allowed. It stated: "Nothing can justify this kind of terrorist action. However, this does not contradict the [fact] that any offense against any religious belief, prophets, or religious-sectarian symbols should be totally rejected since it offends millions of believers... It is true that the West allows any person to criticize or mock any religion, but France itself, for instance, jails anyone who denies the Holocaust or questions the death toll, and does not see [this ban] as in infringement on freedom of expression or scientific research..."[5]
On left: Western free speech when anti-Islam publications are concerned; on right: Western free speech when it concerns anti-Semitism (Arabi21.com, January 15, 2015)
Calls For Laws Against Insulting Religions
Many writers who condemned the insult to the Prophet called for laws banning insulting religions. Thus, for example, the Saudi government daily Al-Madina editorialized: "The crimes of terrorism, which are carried out by extremist terrorist groups motivated by religion - such as the attack in Paris two days ago, and attacks prior to that on mosques, churches, and synagogues in many countries, including European countries like Sweden - require countries to enact laws that stress respect for all monotheistic religions and ban offending religious symbols. This is so as not to provide extremist terrorist groups with excuses to commit these crimes, which threaten the security and stability of peoples..."[6]
The Qatari daily Al-Watan also called in an editorial for setting religions and their symbols as red lines that must not be crossed, even under the pretext of free speech: "It is nice that the whole world gathers for a march condemning this barbaric and horrific phenomenon [i.e. terrorism] that threatens our security... But it would be even nicer if, after this solidarity march, the whole world expressed a sincere position on freedom of speech and [defined] its boundaries... and the red lines that cannot be crossed under any circumstances... What we need is for all the world's governments to agree on a code of moral conduct, one that respects the sacred tenets [of religions] and the prophets..."[7]
'Abd Al-Bari 'Atwan also wrote on this issue: "Why not issue laws and legislation under which anyone, without exception, who attacks the messengers and the prophets, will be convicted [in a court of law] - which will eliminate the bloodshed that recurs every year? Let freedom of speech end regarding the prophets and messengers; what is the harm in that? This may [not only] prevent bloodshed; it may also lead to coexistence and ties among peoples..."[8]
The cartoons insulting the Prophet opened the door to terror (Aljazeera.net, January 16, 2015)
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Not Even Insulting The Prophet Can Justify This Despicable Crime
Conversely, other Arab writers criticized the attempts to justify the attack, arguing that nothing could excuse such behavior. They argued that the Charlie Hebdo staffers' views were legitimate, even if they insulted Muslims. They opined that it is forbidden to react to publications or opinions with violence and murder, and that there are civilized ways to respond. They also argued that Islam itself bans such actions, and that any attempt to justify the attack was as bad as the deed itself.
Egyptian Journalist: Charlie Hebdo's Opinions Are Legitimate, Even If They Offend Us
Al-Ahram columnist 'Aziza Fouad condemned the attack: "All radicals and radicalism are the same, and there is no distinction between someone who plants bombs [here in Egypt] in order to kill the people of the homeland and those who murdered the entire staff of the Charlie Hebdo magazine They murdered freedom of expression and thought. What occurred was an unforgivable crime. The Charlie Hebdo journalists used a pen to express their ideology and opinions, which are legitimate, no matter how hurtful and insulting they are to us. So we must answer them using the very same legitimate weapon. Our cherished Islam and the Prophet prohibit us from perpetrating murder and extermination..."[9]
"Long live free and independent satire!" (Al-Masri Al-Yawm, Egypt, January 8, 2015)
Jordanian Writers: Offending The Prophet Does Not Justify This Terrorism
Jordanian columnist Bassem Al-Tuwaisi wrote in the Jordanian daily Al-Ghad: "The terrorist operation against the French newspaper Charlie Hebdo last week... is barbaric, and Muslims must be the first to condemn it. The behavior and publications of this newspaper in recent years, which included insults to Islam, its exalted Prophet, and other religions, must not serve as a pretext for such terrorism under any circumstances.
"The terrorism carried out by organizations that claim to belong to Islam exacerbates the global Muslim crisis, and the Muslims' cultural distress. This large group of people, dispersed across the globe, suffers harsh economic conditions and a complex web of conflicts; at the same time, however, [these conditions] are no different than the conditions, hardships, and conflicts afflicting other large groups of people around the world - except that [these groups never] entered this dark tunnel [of terrorism]...
"We must not heed the voices that attempt to justify the act of terrorism [claiming it was a response] to the paper's insult [to Islam]. There is no comparing murder and denying people the right to live... to [a newspaper's] political or ideological positions and opinions, no matter how unacceptable and extreme. There are dozens of civilized ways that could have been used to respond [to the cartoons] instead of these barbaric acts. What about devoting some Arab money to launching a global initiative [to set] a moral code for free speech regarding religion, such that the phenomenon [of insulting cartoons] could be reduced, and those spreading them would be marginalized? What if large-scale media campaigns against insulting religions and their symbols had been launched? Or campaigns to boycott those who advertise in such publications? Surely any such measure would have been more effective in putting a stop to this phenomenon [of insulting religions]..."[10]
Broken Charlie Hebdo pen sprouts new branches ( Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, London, January 9, 2015)
Iraqi Writer: The Paris Attack Is Graver Than Destroying The Ka'ba Would Be
In the Iraqi daily Al-Mada, Iraqi writer 'Adnan Hussein called the attack a "despicable crime" and said, basing his statements on the words of the Prophet Muhammad and the Koran, that it was graver than the destruction of Mecca would be: "...The most sacred issue does not justify the killing of one single innocent man. Whatever the reasons and the motives behind the attack in Paris, there is no justifying this massacre, all of whose victims were innocent... Even from the religious Islamic point of view, the slaughter yesterday in Paris was more despicable than the destruction of Mecca [would be]. Indeed, it was Muhammad, in whose name the [Charlie Hebdo] crime was committed, who said that eliminating the Ka'ba would be a lighter [offence] in Allah's eyes than killing an innocent man would be; moreover, the Koran itself bans killing an innocent man, and compares doing so with killing everyone [in the world]."[11]
Saudi Writers: Justifying The Attack Is No Less Grave, And Perhaps Graver, Than The Murder Itself
ares bin Hizam, a Saudi journalist and expert on Al-Qaeda, attacked those who would justify the Paris attack: "Every word excusing the events in Paris is comparable to the crime itself. Everyone should know this. Terrorism is all the same. There is no distinction between killing here and killing there, and any justification of the murder in Paris is the same as justifying the murder in 'Ar'ar[12]... Behind all these events are three minds: The inciter, the perpetrator, and the justifier... We have seen all three during the past two decades... They justified the September 11 attacks, were silent after the Riyadh [attack] on May 12,[13] and were embarrassed by the July 7 attacks in London. All of these cases involved terrorism, the killing of innocents, hiding behind religious slogans, and justifying [the attacks] with benighted responses."[14]
The Islamist accuses the pen of heresy and shoots it (Al-Ahram, Egypt, January 10, 2015)
Former Al-Arabiya TV director 'Abd Al-Rahman Al-Rashed also addressed the need to condemn those who justify the attack in Paris and similar attacks elsewhere. According to him, the people who justify these acts are committing a crime as grave as the perpetrators of the attacks themselves:
"We don't need to blame murderers because they are terrorists whose plans and hostility against the world are clear. However, we do blame those who justify these terrorists' crimes and who try to mislead Muslims with lies and excuses. Some people have even written in defense of the heinous crime of murdering French journalists which shocked the world. What sort of ignorant man can think that a government conspires to kill its own citizens in order to serve a foreign plot? What nonsense and ignorance can make some of us descend to this level of justifying the murder of fellow journalists? Apologists of killers provide cover and legitimacy for terrorists at a time when we are all supposed to be at the forefront of those condemning these acts. Those defending terrorists must realize the severity of the crimes which they are committing. These actions and similar ones over the years have secured for terrorism a base in our region. Their sin is no less grave than the crimes of ISIS and al-Qaeda whom they have long praised. They have misled millions of people by presenting terrorist groups as defenders of the rights and existence of the Muslim diaspora..."[15]
Cartoon in Lebanese Al-Nahhar: "This is how we shall take revenge upon the murderers of the Charlie Hebdo cartoonists" (Al-Nahhar, Lebanon, January 8, 2015)
Tarek Alhomayed, a columnist for the London daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat and the daily's former editor, likewise wrote that justifying terror is even worse than perpetrating it: "The least that the Arab and Muslim countries can do to combat terrorism is to stop those who justify it in the media, in religious forums, from preachers' pulpits and even on Twitter. Any respected official or media outlet that justify terrorism, not only in our region but worldwide, must be stopped. Justifying [terrorism] is worse than accusing [others] of heresy or financing [terrorism]... Those who justify [terrorism] are responsible for the fact that, since the 9/11 attacks in the U.S., we are still seeing generations of young people growing among us who espouse extremist ideology and are convinced of the need to perpetrate suicide bombings and terrorism under [various] ridiculous pretexts... Justifying [terrorism] is worse than accusing [others] of heresy and worse than [perpetrating] an act of terrorism. It should be a crime punishable by law, especially if it is done by respected figures or media outlets..."[16]
Endnotes:
[1] Al-Ahram (Egypt), January 12, 2015.
[2] Al-Ahram (Egypt), January 12, 2015.
[3] Alarabiya.net, January 14, 2015.
[4] Rai Al-Yawm (London), January 10, 2015.
[5] Al-Quds Al-Arabi (London), January 8, 2015.
[6] Al-Madina (Saudi Arabia), January 9, 2015.
[7] Al-Watan (Qatar), January 12, 2015.
[8] Rai Al-Yawm (London), January 10, 2015.
[9] Al-Ahram (Egypt), January 9, 2015.
[10] Al-Ghad (Jordan), January 11, 2015.
[11] Al-Mada (Iraq), January 8, 2015.
[12] On January 5, 2015, armed men opened fire on a Saudi Border Guard force in 'Ar'ar on the Saudi-Iraqi border, killing three, including the commander of the northern region. Alarabiya.net, January 5, 2015.
[13] Referring to a triple suicide bombing carried out by Al-Qaeda in housing compounds in Riyadh, where both locals and Western nationals reside, on May 12, 2003, and in which dozens of people were killed.
[14] Alarabiya.net, January 8, 2015.
[15] English.alarabiya.net, January 8, 2015.
[16] Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), January 13, 2015.
