Brian Englan March 20, 2008/ Global Political Relations
Terrorism with the impact of the 9/11 tragedy could be on the horizon for countries other than the US. Al Qaeda, under the control of Osama bin Laden is now pointing the finger at European countries. Published cartoons of the Islam prophet Muhammed were first published in a Danish newspaper, and then reprinted in other European papers. Papers in Denmark then reprinted the cartoons after several people were arrested for planning a terrorist assassination on the cartoon creator. Multiple cartoons were published including on that depicted Muhammed with a bomb as a turban. Violent protests broke out after, and have began again this month with Afghan students burning flags and chanting anti-western remarks. Many took great offence to the cartoons depicting Muhammed as a terrorist, and many also believe it is forbidden by the Quran to show images of Muhammed at all. Al-Ekhlaas published the bin-Laden statement from an unknown source, but it states that "This is the great and more serious tragedy, and the reckoning for it will be more severe."
These words cause great concern for many countries, but more importantly if terrorist attacks are brought uppon European countries, Al-Qaeda will find themselves with new and highly motivated enemies. The television message said that mocking Islam's founder violated the etiquettes of dispute and fighting. This sounds a little made up. They also related it to the fact that they haven't mocked Jesus, but they forget that a large part of the US does not support Jesus either. This is a very serious message that Al-Qaeda has sent Europe and the world. But lets not forget the sometimes juvenile sensitivity that bin-Laden has, and let's be cautious about what we publish. Free speech is a right, but we should not exploit that right, nor should be provoke the hate that terrorist organizations already hold.
1 comment:
I feel like this situation could turn into something quite serious. My impression of the fundamentalists who become terrorists is that they base a lot of their activities on the anger and humiliation they feel is imposed on them by Western countries. Making a newspaper article that clearly violates their religious norms is adding insult to injury.
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