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Does
Islam Prohibit Drawing Mohammed?
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Originally published under the title, "Allah's Soldiers
Are Ignorant of Islam."
The
belief that Islam prohibits drawing Prophet Mohammed pervades public
debate over what causes "cartoon" violence.
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The soldiers of Allah have struck again. On Monday, Elton Simpson, a
convert to Islam and his Pakistani-American partner, Nadir Soofi,
attacked a convention centre in Garland, Texas, where 200 people were
attending a contest to draw cartoons of Prophet Mohammed.
Thanks to a quick-thinking traffic police officer, both men, carrying
assault rifles, were shot dead in a 15-second exchange of gunfire that
left an unarmed security officer injured.
Islamic clerics in Texas denounced the terror attack, but also called
on Muslims "not to be baited" into anger. The hint behind this
message was that contest organizer Pamela Geller had provoked Muslims
into acting violently.
At the root of Muslim protestations is the false belief that Islam
prohibits the depiction of Prophet Mohammed. There is no prohibition on
creating images of Prophet Mohammed in the Qur'an. Up until the 14th
century; such depictions were common in the non-Arab Muslim world. On my
website, www.tarekfatah.com, I
have posted many depictions of Prophet Mohammed, drawn mostly by Muslim
artists. Even if it were true that such depictions were prohibited, the
prohibition would not be applicable to non-Muslims.
There is no prohibition on
creating images of Prophet Mohammed in the Qur'an.
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Unfortunately, in the wake of Monday's terrorism, few Muslims invoked
Voltaire's alleged statement, "I do not agree with what you have to
say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."
On the contrary, many Muslims rejected Geller's right to freedom of
expression, admitting that even as Americans they believe there should be
limits to free speech enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.
Here in Toronto, one well-known local Muslim tweeted: "This has
nothing to do with free speech, don't kid yourself. Go do a 'Draw a Jew'
event & see what I mean." I asked him to expand a bit on why he
had inserted Jews into the discussion, but he did not respond.
Other Muslims produced conspiracy theories. Youssef Sayyed, a
London-based journalist, claimed the "Texas Attack is a CIA stunt to
take focus off Baltimore in the national media."
While American Muslims were issuing "explanations" about why
the Texas terror attack could not be solely blamed on the terrorists,
other Americans seemed to be providing excuses and rationalizations for
the attackers. Rukmini Callimachi, a respected foreign correspondent for
the New York Times who focuses on Islamic extremism, appeared to
suggest the cartoon contest organizers were partly to blame for the
attack. "Free speech aside, why would anyone do something as
provocative as hosting a "Muhammad drawing contest"? she asked.
Even a PGA golfer tweeted that the terror attack was somehow
understandable. Bob Estes, who is from Texas, tweeted: "If you feel
the need to mock Muhammad in a cartoon, just realize that Muslims may
decide to exercise their #2A (Second Amendment) rights on you."
By contrast, ISIS was unequivocal about the purpose of the attack. In
a radio statement it said:
We say to the defenders of the cross,
the U.S., that future attacks are going to be harsher and worse. The
Islamic State soldiers will inflict harm on you with the grace of God.
The future is just around the corner.
Geller is no saint and is a polarizing figure when it comes to
relations between Muslims and the West. But dismissing her as a
hate-monger is not going to stop ISIS from attacking those of us who
cherish free speech. It's time to choose sides; it's time to stand with
Voltaire.
Tarek
Fatah is a founder of the Muslim Canadian Congress, a
columnist at the Toronto Sun, and a Robert J. and Abby B. Levine Fellow
at the Middle East Forum. He is the author of two award-winning books:
Chasing a Mirage: The Tragic Illusion of an Islamic
State and The Jew is Not My Enemy: Unveiling the Myths that
Fuel Muslim Anti-Semitism.
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