In a moment of remembrance and honour for
the victims of the terrible events that occurred in Paris this past Wednesday -
Friday, I've started a list of media articles that I consider most
representative of the situation at hand. This is not inclusive and will be
updated from time to time.
Extremely graphic content of the point-blank
execution of French (and Muslim) policeman Ahmed Merabet by Said and Cherif
Kouachi.
UOIF website, 7 January 2015
The Union of Islamic Organisations of
France, an organisation representing over 250 Muslim organisations in France,
condemns the Charlie Hebdo attacks. UOIF also participated in the remembrance
march of 11 January in Paris.
OnIslam website, 7 January 2015
OnIslam reviews statements of the leading
Muslim clerics, scholars and organisations that condemned the Charlie Hebdo
attacks. Dr. Wael Shehab stated that:
“Charlie
Hebdo attacks are totally divorced from the teachings of Islam, its general
spirit, and its sublime objectives. Islam protects people’s lives,
properties, and honor. Attacking even a single human is regarded by Islam as
grave and heinous as killing all innocent people of the world. The Qur’an
reads, {Whosoever kills a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption
in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and whoso saves the
life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind.}
(Al-Ma’idah 5: 32)”
Guardian, 10 January 2010
Emma Graham-Harrison covers the extremely
moving speech of Malek Merabet, brother of slain policeman Ahmed Merabet.
Guardian, 9 January 2015
Anne Penketh reviews statements made by Elsa Wolinski,
daugther of George Wolinski who was killed in the Charlie Hebdo attack. She has
posted a poignant post on Istagram: “Dad is gone, not Wolinski”. (Shown in photo, above).
Guardian, 11 January 2015
Nick Cohen takes a closer look at
self-censorship among British media relating to threats, perceived or
otherwise, of Islamic terrorism.
New York Times, 7 January 2015
Steven Erlanger and Katrin Bennhold provide
a summary perspective on the threats to European societies of Islamic
integration, immigration and terrorism, and the tensions between a secular
society and religious extremism.
Slate, 7 January 2015
Miriam
Krule explores some of Charlie Hebdo’s covers and the meanings behind them.
This article would be better if it included additional covers satirizing other
faiths. Charlie Hebdo has published content ridiculing Christianity, Judaism,
women, politicians, “Europe” and many others.
Slate, 8 January 2015
Jordan Weissmann comments on the tensions induced by Charlie
Hebdo, and why even though offensive, free speech is necessary.
The New Yorker, 15 January 2015 issue
Adam Gopnik writes on the satirical tradition of Charlie
Hebdo in France: “The magazine was
offensive to Jews, offensive to Muslims, offensive to Catholics, offensive to
feminists, offensive to the right and to the left, while being aligned with
it—offensive to everybody, equally.”
The New Yorker, 7 January 2015
George Packer takes a brief look at the role of Islam and
terrorism.
Financial Times, 8 January 2015
Philip Stephens reviews the debate of ideas
in Europe and elsewhere.
Queen Rania’s moving statement on her
response to the attacks. Unfortunately, I could not find her website, but am
referencing a third party site.
I am continually reminded of what a
magnificent document the United States Constitution is. The First Amendment
reads:
Congress
shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or
the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government
for a redress of grievances.
In an age of social and mainstream media
incoherence, trolling, national security restrictions, political correctness,
and self-censorship, it is vital that the right to free speech, no matter how
difficult and caustic, is upheld.
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