French weekly prints Prophet Muhammad drawing

[UnrepentantLiberal]

Source: Al Jazeera

A French satirical magazine, whose offices were fire-bombed after it published cartoons on the Prophet Muhammad last September, has published a 64-page special issue with cartoons on the life of Islam's founder.

The editor of Charlie Hebdo weekly insisted that the publication titled "The Life of Muhammad", which was published on Wednesday, was a properly researched and educational work prepared by a Franco-Tunisian sociologist.

Prior to publication, Stephane Charbonnier, who was also the illustrator of the book, said "I don't think higher Muslim minds could find anything inappropriate".

He told the AFP news agency last week that "It is a biography authorised by Islam since it was edited by Muslims."

Read more: http://aje.me/UlWnRu

[leftynyc]

1. They have weird speech laws in France

Is this legal? Can it be considered hate speech?

[Mass]

2. Yes, it is totally legal.

Charlie Hebdo has been doing that for years (at least since 1968). They are playing with fire, but this is what they do.

[leftynyc]

3. Then my prayers are with them

although a few armed guards would be better.

[dipsydoodle]

5. Its covered by both civil and criminal law in France

.

[dipsydoodle]

4. It's inappropriate

because Muslims consider that to be disrespectful. 'Nuff said.

[Bradical79]

6. Which Muslims find it disrespectful? All of them?

And what other images are inappropriate? Buddy Jesus? Che t-shirts? A Republican Elephant waving a white flag?

I mean, there are an extremely large number of images out there that are considered disrespectful by various groups of people. Why do Muslims get special consideration? What's your standard?

[Mz Pip]

7. I agree

Why must everyone walk around on eggshells in fear of offending a religious group?

[zellie]

11. Actually....yes

Apparently we do.

[leftynyc]

16. Agree

I remember hearing once that it's one thing to respect a religion and quite another to respect their taboos. These Muslims need to get over the fact not everybody is in agreement on what is and what is not appropriate without killing people. If they're living in the west, they need to adapt and get their shit together.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

8. There are lots of things I find inappropriate.

I choose not to look at them.

[LanternWaste]

23. More often than not, I don't know if a thing is or is not inappropriate

More often than not, I don't know if a thing is or is not inappropriate until after I've looked at it, as my powers of prognostication and prophecy are not quite as well-tempered as are so many others.

[Stuckinthebush]

9. Southern evangelical christians say it is inappropriate to take prayer out of school

Should we put it back in as a mandatory morning exercise so we won't offend them?

They also say it is inappropriate to abbreviate Christmas as Xmas. Should we stop that?

Oh, they also think it is inappropriate for anyone to say Jesus H. Christ! in frustration. Should we stop that?

I find any religion that uses the threat of violence to stop people from offending them to be twisted.

If more papers would print doodles of the prophet then perhaps it wouldn't be such a big deal after awhile.

[dipsydoodle]

10. Southern evangelical christians

are unlikely to occupy, as is projected, over 25% of the world population by 2030.

[FiveGoodMen]

12. But the Duggars are sure trying!

[leftynyc]

17. Are you truly suggesting

that because there a a lot of Muslims that we should just suck up the fact the little babies can't handle free speech? If that is the expectation, you can expect more and more anti-Muslim press and a crackdown on immigration from any country that demands everyone else respect their crap. Should women cover themselves in shrouds because it's expected the men simply cannot control themselves? Why the fuck should we allow people who think like that here?

[dipsydoodle]

19. I'm merely explaining why I'm right.

Last edited Thu Jan 3, 2013, 07:56 AM - Edit history (1)

The argument you've used could be used equally to defend anti-semitic remarks, homophobic remarks and just about every racial epiphet / slur in existence.

btw - this is who they are : Charlie Hebdo – more anti-Islamic than anti-clerical http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/19/analysis-charlie-hebdo-cartoons

[leftynyc]

21. Right about what?

That there are a lot of Muslims who expect everyone to bow and scrape to their deity? Did Mel Gibson get beaten up or killed for his anti-semetism? How many groups that you know of threaten beheadings for blasphemy? This isn't respect for religion - it's expecting the world to live at your feet and I'll be the first one in line to make sure that doesn't happen.

[msanthrope]

32. What are you right about? That offensive to you speech is properly met with violence??? nt

[geek tragedy]

34. So we should ban heresy against Islam because there are a

lot of them?

Quite honestly, that sounds more like an argument for tighter immigration policies in France.

[Seeking Serenity]

20. What does THAT have to do with anything? (n/t)

[Nye Bevan]

14. If Southern Evangelicals planted bombs and issued fatwas on those who use "xmas",

many people would be much more respectful and compliant of their wishes.

Sadly, violence and threats of violence often gets results.

[Stuckinthebush]

15. Agreed

That's why I think that the more newspapers in Europe and the US refuse to back down from isane demands of not picturing the prophet then the better we all will be.

[leftynyc]

18. You can't force respect

And I couldn't disagree more with your premise. We simply cannot allow religion to dictate our policies. Your attitude is making me wonder if those with the guns here for protection have the right idea cuz no way will I submit to whatever moronic taboos religious freaks have.

[msanthrope]

27. I think the American Taliban often has 'fatwa envy'--

http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Fatwa_envy

[cali]

22. not nearly "'nuff said"

that is a dangerous standard. should people not print or say anything "disrespectful" of Christianity or Judaism or government or... and on and on.

[dipsydoodle]

24. So are you saying for example

that anti-semitic remarks and use of the n word are ok ?

[msanthrope]

25. Define what you mean by 'ok?'

'Ok' as in no criminal penalty?

[dipsydoodle]

29. You should appreciate

that being UK I'm used to more stringent laws than you are. The subject of the OP would be covered by hate speech laws here.

I don't personally agree with the use of anything like this directed toward any group with the obvious intention of pissing them off big time.

I meant ok as in agreement with.

[msanthrope]

33. You should appreciate that you are on a board of Americans, dedicated to electing American officials

under an American Constitution. We aren't the Colonies anymore.

I find your argument regarding speech being 'ok' facile.

[CBGLuthier]

28. Should Huckleberry Finn be banned or burned?

Should all copies of Pink Floyd's The Wall be burned?Should Salman Rushdie be burned?

[Seeking Serenity]

30. So are you saying

that it's all right if people who utter the n-word or anti-Semitic remarks be subjected to acts of violence or threats of violence?

[cali]

35. so are you saying that a cartoon mocking your PM

shouldn't be published? After all, I'm sure some people would be offended.

[msanthrope]

31. I refer you to this classic thread, and the opinions on cultural sensitivity contained within.....

http://betterment.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1819200

Silly is silly, and I don't have to respect the cultural sensitivities of those who have chosen religion over reason.

[DavidWD72]

13. Where?

Where can I find this spread of pictures? I have a firm belief that any and all ridiculous garbage should be ridiculed.

[msanthrope]

26. PZ Myers will probably have a link...

http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/

[and-justice-for-all]

36. All dogma should be critized and will be critized...nt