All's Fair in Love and Religion?

On 30 September 2005, the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published a series of cartoons lampooning the prophet Mohammed and other icons of Islam, saying it wished to “contribute to the debate regarding criticism of Islam and self-censorship”.

But you know this already.

So was it fair?

I doubt anyone really questions that discussion about religion is necessary – after all, any idea that isn't discussed and criticised surely fades inevitably into obscurity, so those on the religious side should be just as keen as anyone else to see it examined. So it follows that the freedom to conduct such discussion, even if it offends some taking part, is necessary.

So far, so obvious.

But there's another side to the issue. Yes, the paper obviously wanted to “discuss” Islam. Yes, some Muslims entered into the debate by protesting the cartoons. But the vast majority of Muslims have no desire at all to enter into some sort of “robust debate” about their beliefs in which those beliefs are mocked and made fun of; in fact all they want to do is live out their lives and religion in peace.

They have a right to do so. Everyone has the right to live their lives free from harassment and abuse, in fact most reasonable people regard this as a basic human right. So if Muslims don't want to take part in a “debate regarding criticism of Islam and self-censorship” then that shouldn't that be respected? Don't get me wrong, the minority of Muslims who protested, preached, shouted and argued about it are absolutely fair game – they entered the discussion and need to go where it goes, even when the direction offends them.

But this is where I think the cartoons went wrong, badly wrong. They didn't just target those Muslims who were willingly participating in the discussion, they targeted all Muslims, and in doing so attacked the innocent majority who wanted nothing to do with them and violated their right to live in peace.

There is a word for people who pursue and abuse those who want to be left alone. That word is “bully”. By publishing cartoons which abused and mocked the beliefs and religion of people who had said and done nothing at all to deserve it as well as the few who had, it seems clear that Jyllands-Posten stepped far, far over the line between “robust debate” and nasty, petty bullying. No one who genuinely appreciates informed debate which leads to greater understanding and tolerance will want that kind of small-minded hate-mongering being passed off as productive discussion.