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Originally Posted by Saaf_laandon_mo
Punky, its not freedom of speech the muslims have been protesting against and I thought this has been pretty clear. Every single muslim Ive spoken to regarding this is infavour of freedom of speech. What we are saying is that with freedom of speech comes a responsibility not to offend. We are protesting against what we feel is a great insult to our prophet, a man we hold in the utmost regard. The fact that these cartoons were published on national media all over Europe added to the sentiments that this is seen as a blatant insult on the most important person to muslimns all over the world, mocking our religion. Its this irresponsibility and insult that most muslims I know are complaining out, not OUR right to freedom of speech.
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You aren't answering my point, you just repeating the usual Muslim line.
If I am not allowed to criticise Mohammed because that counts as incitement to hatred, then what next? I can't criticise Arsenal because it might incite Arsenal fans? Can't criticise the government because it might incite Labour supporters? Can't criticise Martin Luther King because it might incite black people? Where's our freedom of speech then? If I was a Muslim I wouldn't be uttering "the official line", because its insulting against Muslims. It makes them seem like they are so incitable about anything to do with their religion. It does work both ways so Muslims are free to criticise who they like. This what forms a debate which is a cornerstone of western culture.
To you and other Muslims, Mohammed is a prophet and highly revered. You aren't allowed to criticise him. That's fine. I wholeheartedly support that. However, to non-Muslims, Mohammed is just a character in an ancient book, and they are free to criticism him should they choose to.
And when Muslims say "I am not against freedom of speech, but..." I generally feel like that are following the same rule as when people say "I'm not racist, but...".