As you probably have heard, there is this latest development in France regarding to its relationship with Muslims. Now, if I didn’t misquote, France forced Muslims to accept the prophet’s caricature should the school decide to show it. They can no longer protest or reject it like before. The immigrant family who does that will face the risk of deportation. Oh, well…
I think there are some things that don’t seem quite right here. While France has been seeking to lower the tensions in the Muslim world whether by doing some visits, pleading to stop the #boycottfrenchproducts movements or writing article, perhaps they should know what this looks like from a muslim’s point of view.
In my opinion, France, which defended this caricature in the name of so-called “freedom of speech”, seems like not to notice what “freedom” means. I think freedom of speech doesn’t work just one-sided, where some people have the freedom while others don’t have the same privilege.
So if, for example, Miss A has an idea, it should be free to be rejected or accepted by other people. Forcing people to accept Miss A’s idea is not freedom. Rejecting Miss A’s idea also is not a crime. Because other people also has the freedom to have other idea. If the rejection hurts Miss A, then it hurts other people too to have to agree with what they don’t believe in. So why Miss A can’t be hurt but others can be hurt? That is not fair in my opinion.
The same goes with this caricature and Muslims. In Islam, drawing the prophet’s caricature is strictly forbidden. It can be considered as a blasphemy thus hurting 2 billions Muslims worldwide. And now, Muslims can’t even reject it. Where is the freedom of speech for Muslims?
Perhaps for them, drawing the prophet is not wrong but for Muslims, that is unacceptable. Why forced Muslims to accept something against their belief? Doesn’t “freedom of speech” mean we can voice our thoughts or opinions, albeit it is different? Why does the freedom of speech seem to only work for the caricature but doesn’t work for Muslims? Why only defended the caricature but not Muslims?
It is like someone insults your mother and you are not allowed to reject it. Can you accept it?
Let’s try again with different case. If someone is bad-mouthing a renowned company in public, should the company just accept what they said? There is a reason why people can sue for defamation in many countries, you know.
So I personally disagree with the kind of “freedom of speech” that is encouraged by France. Because I believe the real “freedom” doesn’t neglect one party while in the same time overly defends the other one. That is not justice as far as I knew.
Just like you shouldn’t force a vegan to eat chicken satay, you can’t also force Muslims to accept blasphemy. I don’t think freedom which didn’t take into consideration the Muslims’ sentiment is considered as empowerment in any way. Becoming a Muslims is not a crime. Then why should there be this different treatment?
But if France still insist to do something like this then as a Muslim I will keep boycotting French products as I wrote here. I can’t just ignore this and have business like usual while my belief doesn’t get respect it deserves. I can’t agree to any blasphemy towards my prophet no matter how France tried to make it looks like. My prophet and my religion are my pride, they can’t just be separated from my daily life, so people who don’t respect them for whatever reasons better stay away from me.
Because you don’t get to ask for respect when you can’t even give any. Get used to treat people the way you want to be treated. Remember, you can do anything you like, but be ready for the consequences of your actions. For France, the consequence of this blasphemy under the pretext of “freedom of speech” is #boycottfrance movement. There, take it or leave it!
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