Insulting Islam & The Muslim Response

We note that a number of publications in the past which were designed to insult Islam in general, Almighty Allah (swt), the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pboh), the Holy Qur’an, the laws of Islam and the Muslim Practices and Beliefs in general. Some of these were published in various print and digital media throughout the world – particularly in European countries.

Instances of these publications have included in the recent past the drawing of cartoons, comics and caricatures of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pboh), e.g. in publications like Jyllands-Posten in Denmark and Charlie Hebdo in France. In each instance, the Muslim response was vociferous and, in some cases violent, with the resulting loss of life of some of the actors involved in the process of publication. 

We note that this issue is complex and embodies a number of different aspects that are driven by various factors, which need to be carefully dealt with: Blasphemy, Freedom of Speech; Freedom to Blaspheme; & the Muslim response.