Editorial Respecting Islam Pope Francis said on Thursday there are limits to freedom of expression, especially when it insults or ridicules someones faith. Francis spoke about the Paris terror attacks while en route to the Philippines, defending free speech as not only a fundamental human right but a duty to speak ones mind for the sake of the common good. But he said there were limits. Pope Francis has spoken at a perfect time and his statement will very much be taken serious in many international corridors of powers, think tanks and the media. Christianity being one of the largest practicing religion on earth after Islam and Pope Francis being its top symbol and living representative certainly matters a lot. Pope Francis message might not be liked by many negative minders and those who do not wish to see peace on earth but for those who want respect for other religions and those who want to see brotherhood, peace and love amongst all races of mankind living in different corners of the world have certainly applauded for Pope Francis and their respect for Pope has increased manifold. Pope Francis should go a step further and should request the United Nations to adopt international laws for respecting other religions and faiths. These laws should be enforced in every country of the world. If the French government had punished Charlie Hebdo in the first place for making fun of Islam, there would have been no incident in France which took place last week. Freedom of speech and freedom of expression should definitely have limits and these limits should be defined on international level and international forums and these laws should be applicable all over the world in each and every country. Pakistan parliament has always respond to the Parish incident and on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution tabled against blasphemous caricatures published in French weekly satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, dozens in Lahore marched against the publication. In a statement issued from Riyadh, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also condemned the French magazine. Freedom of speech should not be used to hurt religious sentiments of any community, the statement read, adding that publication of provocative material should be discouraged by the international community. Pakistan should request the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) to play its role in introducing laws which forbids humiliation of other religion and in this regard the United Nations, European Union and all other international forums should be used for introduction of such laws. Turkey can also play a positive role in this regard and they already have as well. Last year Turkey had organised an international conference titled Islam Phobia and the objective of the conference was to demand respect for Islam and to clear the negative phobia which is being spread by certain lobbies to portray Islam as an extremist and evil religion. Turkey along with Pakistan and other Muslim countries who represent more than two billion world population need to take this issue on international level. It is the responsibility of every Muslim leader to address the negative propaganda which is being spread against Islam. This is an extremism and terrorism of its kind as well when a cartoonist of a magazine or newspaper wakes up one fine morning and decides to humiliate the most sacred personality of Islam, the Prophet Muhammad ( Peace be upon him). Of course it is not just the cartoonist who is involved in this whole affair, it is the media outlet as well who lets such garbage be published. Who gives them the right to do such a thing? Who gives them the right to hurt two billion Muslim.? If the French President of German Chancellor thinks that they can get away with some of the comments they passed last week, then they are mistaken. They will loose these thrones by such comments and their lives after their premiership and chancellorship will be in danger, if they do not regret what the Charlie and the Hamburg based newspaper published. It is a shame that not only media outlets but political leaders and rulers also give statements which hurt the feelings of Muslims all around the world. All the Muslim countries should summon the French and German Ambassadors based in their respective counties and be informed about their concerns. Pakistan should also immediately summon the French and German ambassadors and tell them categorically that if Islam is disgraced by any means in their local media, then should pack up and be moving back to their countries. They should also be informed about the security threats as well. The sooner international community resolve this issue of respecting all religions the better it will be for the survival of man kind to live in peace with one another. Bravo Pope Francis for playing the lead in this regard.
Posted on: Fri, 16 Jan 2015 06:49:01 +0000
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