Cartoon Calamity

In recent weeks the Islamic world has made me face some very awkward truths which I have been doing my best to avoid. Islam is just as, if not more illiberal than Christianity. I can happily sit back and attack Christianity (and I have been – with a vengeance) yet I have always shyed away from attacking Islam because quite frankly – I felt sorry for them, being on the wrong end of American patriotism and all.

Yet the past couple of weeks have changed all that. I have had my liberal edge tested – and, unfortunately for Islam – found it as strong as ever. The Danish newspaper should not have published the cartoons. I’ll give you that – they have the right to do so – but they should have refrained from doing so in the name of good taste. Yet that is far from the issue any longer.

The issue now is one of the Islamic reaction. In the name of the Prophet they have unleashed a wave of terror across the whole world. They have promised suicide attacks and more ‘9/11’ scale disasters; they have burnt buildings to the ground, murdered and sworn vendetta on Europe. But, aha! – Fear not – this is just the extremist Muslims – the majority have got their heads screwed on right?

Well no. They are blaming the western governments for allowing Islam to look bad in the press. What!? How on earth can they possibly be claiming that when it is the Muslims, their own ‘brothers’, who are indulging in an orgy of violence against innocents? The western press are scared stiff of issues concerning Muslims for fear off being crushed by illibreal protection laws (or subject to death threats).

I never believed the West to be anti-Islam and I could never understand why anyone would be. For the first time I am asking serious questions of the protections we afford the faith. Islam, just like everyone else, should no longer be off limits to criticism.

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