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Europe call to protect free speech for Muslims
Governments across Europe must do more to protect people of Muslim backgrounds who face threats and attacks from militants for exercising their right to free speech, a report said today.
The report from the British-based Centre for Social Cohesion thinktank highlighted the case of 27 politicians, authors, journalists, activists and artists across the Continent who had been targeted with violence and intimidation because of their comments about Islam and cultural practices associated with the religion.
And it warned that official failure to offer victims the
protection they needed had left "significant numbers" of Europe's ethnic minority citizens unable peacefully to express themselves and created the impression that more Muslims were opposed to open debate and free speech than was actually the case.
It is the duty of European governments to protect the freedom of speech of all citizens, regardless of race or religion, and to pursue and prosecute those who try to use threats to silence them, said the report – Victims of Intimidation.
"Through doing so, European governments will be able to promote greater religious and social harmony by demonstrating that they see Muslims and those of Muslim background as full and complete citizens, neither restricted in their freedoms nor unduly permitted to issue threats against others," the report concluded.
Among the cases highlighted were those of Satanic Verses author Salman Rushdie, who lived in hiding from death threats for a decade; Maryam Namazie, who received threats to her life after setting up the Council of Ex-Muslims in Britain and denouncing the veil; Cardiff-based humanist writer Anwar Shaikh, who was the subject of a fatwa demanding his hanging; and the British-based author Ibn Warraq, who lives in hiding after receiving threats following the 1995 publication of his book Why I Am Not A Muslim.
The report also discussed the case of pop singer Deepika "Deeyah" Thathaal, who says she has been threatened, spat at and attacked with pepper spray for videos which show her dancing suggestively with a man and taking off a burqa to reveal a bikini underneath.
Director of the Centre for Social Cohesion and author of the report Douglas Murray said: "The inalienable right to freedom of speech and expression has come under threat by Muslim extremists.
"Fellow Muslims are finding it increasingly difficult to criticise elements of their faith or culture without fear of significant reprisal. In a free society, no belief or set of values should remain beyond open criticism.
"To grant a belief system amnesty from discussion concedes that intimidation and violence can succeed.
"Unless Muslims are allowed to discuss their religion without fear of attack there can be no chance of reform or genuine freedom of conscience within Islam."
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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