The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
OUR FREE SPEECH IS VITAL
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 19, states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” Unfortunately, this is not always the case when it comes to religion.
There is no one single definition of blasphemy. But it could be summed up as insulting a religion or their god, or hurting the feelings of believers.
Currently, around 70 countries have blasphemy laws, while Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Iran have even handed down death sentences for so-called blasphemy, with Pakistan being one of the worst offenders.
In 2011, Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, a fierce critic of the blasphemy laws, was assassinated by his own bodyguard. Many hailed the killer as a hero. Soon after the governor’s death, Religious Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatt, a Christian, who spoke out against the laws and killings, was also shot dead.
Basically, no one dare change the blasphemy laws in Pakistan for fear of a backlash from very powerful religious leaders.
In many countries, it seems that blasphemy is often used as a political tool to silence and oppress those of another religion. Amnesty International says the law is “used to pursue vendettas and justify vigilante violence”. I agree. It goes on to say: “On the basis of little or no evidence, the accused will struggle to establish their innocence while angry and violent mobs seek to intimidate the police, witnesses, prosecutors, lawyers and judges.”
One of the most high-profile cases was that of Pakistani Christian Asia Bibi. In 2010 she was convicted of insulting the prophet Muhammad, after a row with her neighbours. She was given a death sentence and spent eight years waiting in solitary confinement. Thankfully a court overturned her conviction and she was finally released, much to the disgust of hardliners who wanted her put to death. And they say that religion is about peace?
However, even in Europe, there are blasphemy and/or religious insult laws. In Germany in 2016, a man was fined 500 euros for displaying anti-Christian stickers on his vehicle.
In 2015, comedian/writer Stephen Fry, on a TV show in Ireland, made the following remarks. He said why should he “respect a capricious, mean-minded, stupid god who creates a world... full of injustice?” That is his view and, in my opinion, he is entitled to it. It’s called freedom of speech, which we are rapidly losing. However, a viewer complained, and Fry was investigated for blasphemy by the police. Thankfully they later saw common sense and dropped the case.
If I could ever get to meet the “offended” viewer, I’d politely quote the following from the Bible: “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.” (1 Timothy 2:12). This is just one of many countless quotes that I’m sure “offend” millions of non-believers.
Look, I have no problem with anyone
believing in the Bible – many of my friends do – but this is the thing for me, the double standards involved. It’s OK for religious books to quote such things, but when others choose to speak out against it, they are accused of being insulting and offensive.
What about a stage play that mocks Jesus? Ban it? No, certainly not, just don’t go and see it if that offends you. Maybe as you’re reading this, what I’ve just said offends you and you think it appalling that I believe a play mocking Jesus should be allowed when it offends believers. Fair enough, but I’ve read the Bible and there’s plenty in there that offends me, so should we ban that? No, we shouldn’t.
Remember the author Salman Rushdie and his book The Satanic Verses? He was given a fatwah, a death sentence basically.
I have long held very strong political views, which are just as important to me as a religion is to others. I have no problem whatsoever with others questioning my political beliefs, so why can’t I do the same with religion?
For the record, I would never choose to deliberately offend anyone’s belief system, but why can’t I question, without fear of arrest or death, some of the outrageous things quoted in religious books? What is religion so scared of ?
Many people these days say “Oh, but you can’t say that, it’s offensive to my religion”. I actually meant no offence, but the thing is, many things believers have done in the name of God, offends me. I think Rushdie summed it up perfectly well when he said: “The moment you declare a set of ideas to be immune from criticism, satire, derision or contempt, then freedom of thought becomes impossible.”
I’ve also read the Quran and there are passages in there that are “offensive” to me. But would I ban the book? No, of course not. I do discuss these passages with my Muslim friends – it makes for very interesting conversations indeed.
Someone, somewhere will always be “offended” by something someone else says or writes, but where do we stop? Ban everything? Right now, our society is walking on eggshells over fear of saying a word or phrase that is no longer “acceptable”. And it seems to change by the day. I am deeply concerned about where it’s all headed. I hope I’m not alone on this.
Freedom of speech is, I feel, absolutely vital to a fully functioning civil society. Without it, we have nothing. I’m sure, though, there is a line, for freedom of speech comes at a price. It should never promote discrimination or incite violence against someone simply because they are of a different race, ethnicity, sexuality or have a different set of beliefs from you.
In my view, as long as you don’t make false criminal accusations or incite hatred or violence, you should be allowed to voice your opinion without fear of getting death threats from someone who claims they are “offended”, and certainly without the fear of being arrested by increasingly autocratic or religious authorities.
Surely we should all be allowed to criticise, challenge and question everything, and yes that includes all religions. For once we lose freedom of speech, that’s it, we are done, finished as a fully functioning democracy.
I have Christian, Jewish and Muslim friends in numerous countries. I have no problem with them believing in their faith.
Why, though, do some of them have a problem with me questioning religion? I never get an answer, other than, “you can’t offend my religion”. Thing is, I’m not offending it, I’m questioning it and what it stands for, and that seems to be their problem.
They then turn my questioning religion into religious hatred. It makes no sense. Religion, it seems, is not good at taking criticism.
For sure, if you go to, say, Iran or Saudi Arabia, and do something as stupid as burn the Quran, that is highly offensive and never acceptable. However, you can be accused of blasphemy if you make derogatory remarks. But what constitutes derogatory?
I could point to numerous things I’ve written that could be interpreted as blasphemy. I don’t think they are, but they could be taken that way if the country deems it so. Internet bloggers have been jailed, lashed and sentenced for expressing views that “offend” religious beliefs.
The entire subject of blasphemy is a very dangerous game indeed for any journalist. This is why, despite the fact I’d like very much to visit, I doubt I will ever go to Saudi Arabia, Iran or Pakistan. I could end up in jail – or worse – for simply writing down my thoughts and giving my view.
Could anything be worse than blasphemy? Oh, most certainly yes. Renouncing, abandoning and leaving your religion can be deeply frowned upon. It’s called apostasy, and in some parts of the world it carries a death sentence. But that’s for another time.
NEXT WEEK: FORGIVENESS
RIGHT NOW OUR SOCIETY IS WALKING ON EGGSHELLS OVER FEAR OF SAYING A WORD OR PHRASE THAT IS NO LONGER ‘ACCEPTABLE’