I SPEAK AS I PLEASE
Freedom of speech is always under
attack, even in those countries with a long tradition of free expression and
even in the United States
‘A British Muslim [Ahmed Azhar] faces jail for claiming soldiers should “die and go to hell” following a horror attack on British troops in Afghanistan.[1]’ These comments he posted on his Facebook page. Azhar Ahmed, 19, posted the comments on his profile page and has been charged with a racially aggravated public order offence.
‘Detectives arrest man, 22, over 'offensive' Facebook page set up following deaths of the shot policewomen. Jobless Neil Swinburne, 22, set up the website 'Dale Cregan is a Hero' to his home in Liverpool. The Page appeared within hours of the attack which killed PC Nicola Hughes and PC Fiona Bone, the Facebook page lauded murder suspect Dale Cregan, 29, as a 'legend.’ Swinburne was arrested under the Communications Act 2003. If found guilty, he faces a six month jail sentence.Both postings have been described as offensive and in bad taste, which is true, however can they possible be construed as criminal offences? Well yes ,thanks to the zealotry of Tony Blair and New Labour they can be. Thus on Saturday's Radio 4’s Today Programme,* an Islamacist apologist is able to quote the case above to ridicule the idea that we enjoy freedom of speech in this country and make his case for criminalising criticism of Islam. The disengenousness of some of his arguments does not detract from the fact that he had a point.
Along with the open and avowed enemies of free speech there are those who protest their fidelity to the cause whilst wrapping these protestations in so many ifs, buts, caveats and weasel words as to make these declarations nigh on meaningless. I choose two examples at random.
'Of course people should be entitled to mock Islam and any other religion. However, in the current climate of racial and religious prejudice in Europe, how can these cartoons be helpful?[2]’
Since when, I ask, was there a requirement when exercising free speech to be helpful?
“I know there is freedom of speech, but with freedom of speech comes responsibility. This promotes hate."[3] Well no, with freedom of speech comes, well, freedom of speech.
As I say I picked these quotes at random I could have found half a dozen more without effort. My own position is clear, with respect to freedom of speech it is as close to absolutist as you can get. If someone wants to say that all gay men are the sons of Satan and all are in possession of free passes into hell,[4] he should be free to do so. If he also feels moved by the holy spirit to hand out leaflets to this effect he should also be free to undertake this act. Equally if Allah calls upon the righteous to carry placards bearing the legend ‘Free speech go to Hell’, though a somwhat curious concoction of words, I have no problem with this, nor should a stable and confident open society. Does anyone really believe that seeing the Facebook page of the emotionally challenged Mr Azhar, a hitherto peaceful and law abiding citizen would suddenly turn into a crazed squaddie killer, I think not. If Mr Azhar gets sent to prison it will be for being offensive, for hurting people’s feelings, this is an affront to a free society.
It is actions not words that do the damage. Der Sturmer it is true created a climate within Germany that ultimately led to the Holocaust, but Der Sturmer was operating within a closed totalitarian state, in a free and open society it would, more often than not, be tossed back into the gutter from whence it came. Anyone who did buy into its poisonous narrative would face the excoriation of interrogative ridicule. Given the prerequisite of a free and open society ideas are best combated with other ideas.
The only exception I would allow, would be direct incitement to violence or murder. It seems to me one thing to call for the beheading of infidels in theory, i.e. should they step into the jurisdiction of a Muslim state practising Sharia law, (though I reserve the right, as an infidel, to take umbrage), quite another to call openly for the murder of an author for the offence of writing a book that you feel just happens to insult your religion. Equally we all have the right, I would say the duty, but that’s just me, to criticize oppressive religion and it’s practises, however handing out leaflets declaring that ‘all our problems are caused by Islam, kill Muslims,’ crosses a line.
Even these two latter examples need to be sensitively policed, for once curtailed freedom to speak out can be subjected to, what, in military terms is called mission creep.
It is strange phenomenon free speech, you only realise you had it when it’s gone; it’s never granted freely and indeed has to be constantly fought for. The more that speech is restricted the more the human spirit withers and the life of the mind is diminished; when it is removed altogether the human spirit dies.
*22.09.12.
[1] Daily Express 15.09.2012
[2] Comment is Free Guardian 20/09/12
[3] On a radio vox pop.
[4] For anybody concerned about being consigned to Hell, I speak as one such my self, I wouldn’t worry about it too much, even if there is such a place it will be full of all the fun people, whilst heaven will be like a party organised by a Presbyterian Scottish clergyman..
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‘Detectives arrest man, 22, over 'offensive' Facebook page set up following deaths of the shot policewomen. Jobless Neil Swinburne, 22, set up the website 'Dale Cregan is a Hero' to his home in Liverpool. The Page appeared within hours of the attack which killed PC Nicola Hughes and PC Fiona Bone, the Facebook page lauded murder suspect Dale Cregan, 29, as a 'legend.’ Swinburne was arrested under the Communications Act 2003. If found guilty, he faces a six month jail sentence.Both postings have been described as offensive and in bad taste, which is true, however can they possible be construed as criminal offences? Well yes ,thanks to the zealotry of Tony Blair and New Labour they can be. Thus on Saturday's Radio 4’s Today Programme,* an Islamacist apologist is able to quote the case above to ridicule the idea that we enjoy freedom of speech in this country and make his case for criminalising criticism of Islam. The disengenousness of some of his arguments does not detract from the fact that he had a point.
Along with the open and avowed enemies of free speech there are those who protest their fidelity to the cause whilst wrapping these protestations in so many ifs, buts, caveats and weasel words as to make these declarations nigh on meaningless. I choose two examples at random.
'Of course people should be entitled to mock Islam and any other religion. However, in the current climate of racial and religious prejudice in Europe, how can these cartoons be helpful?[2]’
Since when, I ask, was there a requirement when exercising free speech to be helpful?
“I know there is freedom of speech, but with freedom of speech comes responsibility. This promotes hate."[3] Well no, with freedom of speech comes, well, freedom of speech.
As I say I picked these quotes at random I could have found half a dozen more without effort. My own position is clear, with respect to freedom of speech it is as close to absolutist as you can get. If someone wants to say that all gay men are the sons of Satan and all are in possession of free passes into hell,[4] he should be free to do so. If he also feels moved by the holy spirit to hand out leaflets to this effect he should also be free to undertake this act. Equally if Allah calls upon the righteous to carry placards bearing the legend ‘Free speech go to Hell’, though a somwhat curious concoction of words, I have no problem with this, nor should a stable and confident open society. Does anyone really believe that seeing the Facebook page of the emotionally challenged Mr Azhar, a hitherto peaceful and law abiding citizen would suddenly turn into a crazed squaddie killer, I think not. If Mr Azhar gets sent to prison it will be for being offensive, for hurting people’s feelings, this is an affront to a free society.
It is actions not words that do the damage. Der Sturmer it is true created a climate within Germany that ultimately led to the Holocaust, but Der Sturmer was operating within a closed totalitarian state, in a free and open society it would, more often than not, be tossed back into the gutter from whence it came. Anyone who did buy into its poisonous narrative would face the excoriation of interrogative ridicule. Given the prerequisite of a free and open society ideas are best combated with other ideas.
The only exception I would allow, would be direct incitement to violence or murder. It seems to me one thing to call for the beheading of infidels in theory, i.e. should they step into the jurisdiction of a Muslim state practising Sharia law, (though I reserve the right, as an infidel, to take umbrage), quite another to call openly for the murder of an author for the offence of writing a book that you feel just happens to insult your religion. Equally we all have the right, I would say the duty, but that’s just me, to criticize oppressive religion and it’s practises, however handing out leaflets declaring that ‘all our problems are caused by Islam, kill Muslims,’ crosses a line.
Even these two latter examples need to be sensitively policed, for once curtailed freedom to speak out can be subjected to, what, in military terms is called mission creep.
It is strange phenomenon free speech, you only realise you had it when it’s gone; it’s never granted freely and indeed has to be constantly fought for. The more that speech is restricted the more the human spirit withers and the life of the mind is diminished; when it is removed altogether the human spirit dies.
*22.09.12.
[1] Daily Express 15.09.2012
[2] Comment is Free Guardian 20/09/12
[3] On a radio vox pop.
[4] For anybody concerned about being consigned to Hell, I speak as one such my self, I wouldn’t worry about it too much, even if there is such a place it will be full of all the fun people, whilst heaven will be like a party organised by a Presbyterian Scottish clergyman..
Having visited this page I would be grateful for your feedback, either tick one of the boxes below or make a comment via the comments button.
