What's this nonsense about Islamic states trying to curtail freedom of expression? On the contrary, Islamic jurisprudence protects freedom of expression - as long as, you know, we're clear about the definition of freedom of expression as "the expression of views on personal or public matters that are beneficial to society and the person communicating the views", and as long as it's used responsibly, within certain legal restraints, and the freedom isn't exploited to malign Islam, and it's understood that the objective of the expression of one’s views should be the welfare of Muslims, and as long as the sacred religious symbols of Islam are protected by law from abuse, and...
Protecting freedom of religion and opinion was underscored in a statement issued by the International Islamic Fiqh Academy at the conclusion of its international conference on Islamic jurisprudence in Sharjah on Thursday.
The five-day conference, which commenced on Sunday, was hosted by Sharjah ruler Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qassimi.
The final communiqué recommended Muslim countries enact laws allowing freedom of expression and not to exploit freedom to malign Islam and its sacred symbols or cause chaos in society.
The communiqué defined freedom of expression as the expression of views on personal or public matters that are beneficial to society and the person communicating the views. “Freedom of expression is a protected right in Islam to be practiced within certain legal restraints,” the statement said.
He defined legal restraints as not abusing the dignity of others, adherence to truth and objectivity, and not being irresponsible.
The method of expression of one’s views should be legitimate, it said, adding that the objective of the expression of one’s views should be the welfare of Muslims and the general public.
It also urged Muslim countries to strive to persuade other countries to make laws to protect sacred religious symbols of Islam and stop distorting them in the name of freedom. It also demanded the international community avoids different standards in applying its charters on judging Muslim issues and issues of other religions.
Well, I think we can all agree on that last point.
It gets better:
“Religious freedom is guaranteed to every member of society on the basis of a clear directive of the Holy Qur’an, which says: There is no coercion in religion,” the communiqué said. The statement also demanded that non-Muslims respect Islamic symbols and stop abusing the Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him), and called on Muslims to strive to overcome their differences.
On the other hand, the statement warned against the tendency of some people to spread ideas that endanger the security and stability of the Ummah.
The statement also urged Muslim rulers to guarantee their subjects responsible freedom, food, housing, treatment, education and employment opportunities so they are not carried away by dangerous ideologies.
The statement stressed that freedom of expression should not be an excuse to attack the religion and its symbols, or to disrupt law and order and create disunity. The communiqué also stressed the need for Shariah-based monitoring of the activities of Islamic banks.
They appear to have a genuine disability of understanding how their understanding of the right to freedom of speech violates the very idea of this right. Which may explain their difficulties with understanding the concept of universal human rights in general. If the only way to be human is the Islamic way, then it makes sense that Islamic laws are the measures by which human rights will be acknowledged.
Posted by: Noga | May 02, 2009 at 09:03 PM
If 'religious freedom is guaranteed to every member of society', do they condemn any notion of punishment for apostasy? I suspect not.
Posted by: Bob-B | May 03, 2009 at 09:13 AM
The phrase “Freedom of expression is a protected right in Islam to be practiced within certain legal restraints,” simply means that all infidels have a right and a duty to support sharia law so that Islam will maintain its supremacy in Islamic countries and mullahs will increase their political authority over non-Muslims in all other countries.
Anyone failing to support sharia concepts of censorship, are to be fined and punished in all Islamic countries. Furthermore, the goal of this Islamic political theory of controlled freedom is to extend sharia law to all countries not using it, thus making any criticism of Islam as a religion or of those who practice it universally illegal throughout the world.
Far from extending freedom, the purpose of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy is to restrict freedoms presently enjoyed in non-Islamic countries.
They have cleverly worded their statement against freedom so that it appears to be support for freedom.
According to definition, Islam was perfected by Allah and it would be blasphemous to analyse, assess or comment on perfection.
Islam, thus, by definition cannot be changed or improved in any way.
The International Islamic Fiqh Academy merely grants us freedom to agree with the statements "Islam is perfect" and "Islam is politically supreme over other faiths".
Their "freedom" is slavery under the mullahs.
Posted by: GoodGolly | July 15, 2009 at 03:24 AM