France To Close Embassies After Publication of Muhammad Cartoons
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Charlie Hebdo published the cartoons after days of violent protests against the film "Innocence of Muslims." (Creative Commons)
The weekly Charlie Hebdo's decision to publish the caricatures came after days of violent protests against the film "Innocence of Muslims."
The French Foreign Ministry issued a travel warning to French citizens in the Muslim world to exercise "the greatest vigilance" and avoid public gatherings. An anonymous lawsuit was filed against Charlie Hebdo hours after the issue hit newsstands, according to the Paris prosecutor's office.
The magazine's chief editor, who goes by the name of Charb and has been under police protection for a year, defended the cartoons.
"Muhammad isn't sacred to me," he said. "I don't blame Muslims for not laughing at our drawings. I live under French law; I don't live under Quranic law."
Read the full story at the Associated Press. Read more Neon Tommy stories of the Mid-East riots here.
Comments
The key element of the right to free speech is that it be independent of its content, and that it be applied equally across the board -- no matter what the subject being discussed -- or who agrees or disagrees with what is being said.
The French government, therefore, violated this basic rule when it prevented Muslims from peacefully protesting in France. Though it may have done this to keep the peace, this is not a good enough reason to cut off free speech and peaceful assembly.
France should thus reverse course and allow Muslims to protest -- to prove its tolerance for dissent and to show how things are done in a mature, civilized country.