Paris Killing and Freedom of Speech
Yet another barbaric killing in the name of Islam. The beheading of a teacher in the outskirts of Paris last Friday is nerve chilling – so inhuman, cruel and un-Islamic. If the killer had thought he was doing a great service to Islam or he was expressing his extreme love for Prophet Mohammed for showing cartoons of Prophet Mohammed to students, he was either misguided, brainwashed or totally ignorant of Islam. He probably had passion for Islam without actually understanding Islam.
We, normal Muslim world, out rightly reject, condemn and denounce this heinous killing. Whatever reason the killer had to justify his devilish deed, there is no justification to take out a human life, whatsoever. If some people thought Islamic teachings guided this young killer to kill the teacher for showing the Prophet of Islam in bad light, they are totally wrong. Let me make it very clear that Islam never preaches killing except in case of self-defense and to protect destruction of property. Even if someone kills someone, the murderer can be eliminated only after a due process of law, this is Islam. Everything else is insanity, madness.
My purpose of writing this article is not to separate and abandon the Muslim killer from Islam and claim innocence. Muslim Ummah (brotherhood) cannot simply do this, all have a collective responsibility. Islam teaches the believers to love Prophet Mohammed more than anything else, even more than one’s own parents but never directly or indirectly suggests when such a Prophet is defamed get into violence. It is human nature that when loved one is abused, he/she gets enraged but in Islam there is no scope for any violent retaliation. Quran specifically prohibits taking revenge or retaliation even when Allah is abused or defamed.
A true follower of Islam will understand that Allah or Prophet Mohammed cannot be defamed by any human deed or word. Probably the Islamic world, when teaching to love Prophet, has failed to teach his followers enough that love does not include turning violent when their loved one is abused or defamed. We need to be more vociferous in teaching that violence and crime to protect the image of Prophet is indeed hate and is a crime against humanity. To this end, I feel, we Muslims have failed to convey the right message to our kids and youths. I own up the moral responsibility. I extend an unconditional apology to the family of the killed teacher.
Now coming to freedom of speech. France is a country which provides maximum freedom of speech to its citizens, it is protected by the 1789 Declaration of Human and Civic Rights. Even though the French Constitution considers free speech as an essential part of a free democratic society, it doesn’t consider free speech as an absolute right. I do not believe in absolute freedom of speech, in fact, there cannot be absolute freedom of speech anywhere in the world. My elementary teacher had given a perfect example of why there cannot be absolute freedom of speech. I come from an area where arecanut fields are common scene, even small households will have a few arecanut plants. These plants grow tall and planted in equal distance. My teacher explained, I remember even now so vividly : “May be your own areca garden and you have full right to walk in the garden waving your both hands the way you want but remember, your hands may hit your own plants and you may get hurt”. There cannot be another better example to explain why there can’t be absolute freedom of speech in the world. Your full freedom of speech too should be bound by its own boundaries – do not try to transgress that boundary.
Even the French Constitution limits the freedom of speech to protecting public order, protecting public from defaming and insults. It is illegal to incite others to commit a crime in France. When the French law is so clear about the limitation of freedom of speech, why did the teacher took the extreme step of showing cartoons of Prophet Mohammed to the students in the class? It is reported that Muslim students of his class were asked to walk out from the class before he showed the cartoons saying it may hurt those Muslim students. When the teacher knew it will hurt the Muslim students, what was the need of showing these cartoons? Wasn’t there anything else available to illustrate freedom of speech to students? Didn’t the teacher know that these cartoons have already become a controversy in France and a sensitive issue? What was the real intention of showing these cartoons? Isn’t the teacher also responsible for his own death by inciting some? I am in no way condoning or defending the crimes of a murderer but we need to realize that there is no absolute freedom of speech.
We need to strike a balance between our freedom and others’ freedom. Enjoy freedom to the full without inciting others. Maintaining an equilibrium in the world is everybody’s responsibility. To my Muslim brothers and sisters – we are already into the month of Rabiul Awwal, the sacred month in which Prophet Mohammed was born. It is custom to recapitulate the life and teachings of Prophet Mohammed in this month. Let us have a relook into his life as to how he reacted when he was insulted and abused both physically and orally during his life time. Let us inculcate some of his beautiful life examples into our life and try to make this world a better world.
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Allu Arjun didn't leave theatre despite being told about woman's death: Hyderabad police
Hyderabad, Dec 22: Top Telugu actor Allu Arjun did not leave the theatre during the screening of 'Pushpa-2' on December 4 despite being told to do so in view of a stampede in which a woman died, police officials claimed on on Sunday.
Speaking at a press conference on the annual round-up of 2024, city police commissioner C V Anand showed a video, made by police, on the situation that prevailed when the stampede occurred.
The video was made by collating footage, including from news channels and cell phone clips. It suggests the actor remained in the theatre till the midnight.
Anand did not make any comment on the video, but said the media can draw its own conclusions.
A police official talked about the sequence of events on the fateful night of December 4.
He said that he and other police officials informed a manager of Allu Arjun about the death of the woman and told him that the situation was out of control. He indicated that they were not allowed to meet the actor.
Allu Arjun's staff members told them that they would convey the matter to the actor but did not do so, he said.
The official said he later managed to reach the actor, told him about the woman's death and asked him to leave the theatre so that the fans don't harm each other while trying to catch a glimpse of him.
The official also told the actor that security arrangements would be made for his exit.
However, the actor said he would go only after watching the film, the police official said.
Later, accompanied by a senior officer, the official went inside and brought the actor out, he said.
Amid allegations that bouncers hired by Allu Arjun pushed crowds as well as policemen when the stampede occurred at the cinema hall, the police commissioner warned that stringent action as per law would be taken if THE bouncers indeed misbehaved with the police on duty.
The VIPs would be made responsible for the behaviour of the bouncers hired by them, he said.
Asked if the police would appeal against the interim bail granted to Allu Arjun, the commissioner refused to give a direct response, just saying it is part of the investigation.
What course of action is taken would be known in the days to come, he said.
He also declined to comment when asked if the family of the deceased told him about Allu Arjun's team or film production team allegedly threatening them not to speak on the issue.
Meanwhile, state Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy found fault with Allu Arjun responding on Saturday to the debate in the Legislative Assembly.
The minister, who observed that the actor should have respect for the government and the chief minister, demanded an apology from Allu Arjun to the government and the CM.
"This government is never vindictive. As Cinematography Minister, we allowed benefit shows and hiking ticket prices to promote the film industry," he said.
However, Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar found fault with CM Revanth Reddy for his comments on Allu Arjun in the Assembly on Saturday.
The comments of the CM sounded like character assassination of Allu Arjun and hurting the Telugu film industry, he alleged in a statement.
Later in the day, Sanjay Kumar visited a boy who is undergoing treatment in a hospital after being injured in the stampede.
"Consoled his father over the heartbreaking loss of his wife, Revathi. I pray to god that Sritej recovers at the earliest. Assured support to the family in this difficult time," Kumar said on X.
Earlier in the day, state DGP Jitender told reporters in Karimnagar district that film personalities and all others should understand that safety and security of citizens is utmost important, and also conduct themselves accordingly.
