The Jewel of Medina & Forthcoming Debate on Freedom of Speech

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The book 'The Jewel of Medina' was released today earlier than schduled. The book is about the relationship between the Prophet Muhammad (s) and his wife Aisha (r). A non-Muslim Professor Denise Spellberg from Texas University saw an edition of the book and said it "made fun of Muslims and their history" describing the book as a "very ugly, stupid piece of work" and saying "you can't play with a sacred history and turn it into soft core pornography."

This is all happening in the name of 'freedom of speech', but freedom of speech is a farce and its application selective. There are numerous 'speech' related offences across countries that claim to be the bastions of free speech. There are limits and laws that prevent the incitement of racial hatred and incitement to acts of violence and murder. The scope of speech related offences has been consistently expanded in Britain since 7/7, with the introduction of offences related to the 'glorification' of terrorism, a speech crime that can lead to prosecution and lengthy sentencing.

It would appear that whilst preaching freedom of speech, the west acknowledge that speech needs limits, protected by law to prevent society descending into hatred, violence and, ultimately, chaos.

We must also ask what type of a society would emerge if people were granted the 'right' to insult, offend and ridicule each other, as a right in itself. For there is a difference between believing 'speak the truth and the truth may offend' and granting the right to offend per se, a belief upon which western comedy is notoriously premised.

Such attitudes erode the common social bonds that gel society by doing away with respect and working in mutual partnership, leading to anti social undercurrents and attitudes, all of which the west is now coincidently trying desperately to confront. How can a society claim to be civilised when it believes it ok to offend and ridicule en mass and then protect the culprits?

It is not correct for Muslims to be silent on this matter or inactive, and must do more than our utmost in voicing our views and in protest, if any of us claim to really love the Prophet (s). I urge you all, Muslim and non-Muslim, to attend the forthcoming debate on this topic that will address the notion of 'freedom of speech' and, inshAllah, put to rest an idea whose origins are specific to a history that Muslims have never experienced. Progress and seeking the truth were values that resonated in Islamic societies, yet promoted the cohesive values of respect and honour. Something contemporary societies are lacking today.

Satanic Verses, Danish Cartoons & The Jewel of Medina:
Has Freedom of Speech Gone too Far?

Hamza Andreas Tzortzis (International Public Speaker)
&
Nikolai Segura (National Secular Society)

Date: 8th November 2008
Time: 6:00pm - 9pm

VENUE: East London University, Lecture Theatre 001,
Duncan House, High Street Stratford, London, E15 2JB

Importantly, in this debate about free speech, Muslims are not afraid of being challenged about their beliefs or debating, explaining, and proving them. The Islamic doctrine is built on a rational, intellectual basis that requires thinking as part of adopting its creed, versus blind or ancestral faith. This is poignantly described in the challenge that God puts forward for those who rejected the message of the Prophet Mohammed (s), and who often resorted to mocking, ridicule and even physical violence against his Companions (ra).

God says in Chapter 2 Verse 23:

"And if you are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down (i.e. the Qur'ân) to Our servant (Muhammad - peace be upon him ), then produce a chapter like it and call your witnesses (supporters and helpers) besides God, if you are truthful."

The challenge is intellectual and is issued to the masters of the language in which the Quran is written - produce one chapter, the shortest of which is 3 verses, like that of the Quran. To undermine Islam totally, and the belief of millions of Muslims, this is the only challenge that needs to be met, rather than having to resort to insults. But despite scores of attempts over history, none has ever yielded any results, as many western critics of Islam have accepted.

The key point here, is that the west believe that offence and insults are somehow an acceptable method of challenging an alternative, whereas Islam invites to honest debate and dialogue,

"Invite (all) to the way of your Lord with wisdom (evidences and reason) and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious." Qur'an chapter 16 verse 125.

Whilst the west may believe that their contest with any thought system routed in the belief in God was finished centuries ago, the growing trend towards Islam challenges this assumption and challenges the west to meet it with an intellectual debate, before peculiar archaic traditions of insult and offence are forwarded in the name of defending free speech