Is Jyllands Posten relaunching the Mohammed cartoons controversy?
Jyllands Posten, the Danish newspaper at the centre of the Mohammed cartoons row, today translated and reprinted a manifesto entitled "Together facing the new totalitarianism" published in French political satire weekly Charlie Hebdo, asserting that other European newspapers will also publish the document (for the moment we know of only two publications that have printed the Manifesto: Charlie Hebdo and Jyllands Posten). It begins "After having overcome fascism, Nazism and Stalinism, the world now faces a new totalitarian global threat: Islamism."
The document also calls for "resistance to religious totalitarianism and for the promotion of ... secular values for all," and asserts that "The recent events, which occurred after the publication of drawings of Muhammed in European newspapers, have revealed the necessity of the struggle for these universal values ... Islamism is a reactionary ideology which kills equality, freedom and secularism."
The 'Manifesto' declares "We refuse to renounce our critical spirit out of fear of being accused of "Islamophobia", an unfortunate concept which confuses criticism of Islam with stigmatisation of its believers. We plead for the universality of freedom of expression, so that a critical spirit may be excercised on all continents, against all abuses and all dogmas."
The 'Manifesto' is signed by Salman Rushdie, Taslima Nasreen, and Bernard-Henri Lévy, amongst others. Significantly, the title of the manifesto signed by the intellectuals differs slightly from the headline choosen by Charlie Hebdo, which speaks of Islamic totalitarianism (cover page and page 2) "Charlie lance un manifeste contre le totalitarisme islamique".
Regarding Jyllands-Posten, it seems that the apology period (January 2006) is now finished. Two weeks ago, the newspaper editor asserted that the press is giving Muslims special treatment as a result of the uproar that has followed the publication of the cartoons. And today, 1 March 2006, the newspaper relaunched the controversy by reprinting this manifesto against islamism.
Our comment:
There is no doubt that Charlie-Hebdo and Jyllands-Posten have written - with the publication of this manifesto - a new chapter in the Mohammed cartoons controversy. It is one thing to defend freedom of expression, another thing to campaign against Islamism a new totalitarianism likened to nazism and stalinism. (there is no ambiguity in the text that Islam is not attacked as a religion, but in its deviant form, islamism).
From October 2005 to February 2006, all newspapers could agree on solidarity with a newspaper under attack, a newspaper afforded the right - or the duty - to inform its readers. This 1st of March manifesto is totally different because it reintroduces a left-right divide. Some right-wing newspapers will consider that they agree with the manifesto and they will promote it, the left-wing newspapers will be worried by a threefold risk:
- firstly, the always easy assimilation between Islam and Islamism
- secondly, the threat the manifesto makes to the possibility of beginning a real dialogue with the Muslim world after the Mohammed cartoons controversy
- thirdly, the risk to fall into the "clash of civilizations" trap and the "World War IV" assertion.
In other words, the Salman Rushdie / Taslima Nasreen manifesto (among others) could add fuel to the fire.
Our position is that intellectuals are intellectuals and newspapers are newspapers: it is normal that newspapers write articles about such a manifesto. However, Charlie Hebdo chose to put the 'Manifesto' on page 2 and the affirmation that the 'Manifesto' is against Islamic totalitarianism in a prominent place on its front page. This is an ideoligical choice, not merely a choice to provide intellectuals with a vehicle to circulate the Manifesto.
Source: Jyllands Posten, Charlie Hebdo (print edition)
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Is Jyllands Posten relaunching the Mohammed cartoons controversy?.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.editorsweblog.org/mt/mt-tb.cgi/3816
Wonderful work. I enjoyed read your site a lot.
Casino, Tragaperras
I am all for the fight for freedom of expression and calling for solidarity and support among the media. However, I totally agree that islamism is a wrong term. There should be a call against any fanaticism and imposing of opinion or way of life. Using Islamism will alienate the moderate islamists. That's the last thing anyone wants in this fragile time.
Nir Ben-Dor
I write @ CoMagz Linkadelic Magazine. You can too.
http://www.comagz.com/webmagazine/
To the American and to the Jews people in
this world,i have to warning you to stop what you're doing to the muslim in this world and what you're wanted to do and also dont allowed to kill saddam hussain,if not i'm on ready to exterminate and destroy
the American and Jews in this world.
And also i want assure both American,
Jews and their allies they shall fail(inshaAllah) just their fore father failed during the time of prophet Muhammad(S.A.W).Islam shall prevail over all religion that is promise of Allah(S.W.T)