The beheadings in France!

In a rare deviation from its avowed neutral stand, PM Modi expressed India’s solidarity with the President Emmanuel Macron of France, following gruesome killings if his citizens by Islamic terrorists.

The blasphemy law in France long ceased to exist liberating the church and the French Republic between 1789 and 1830, the 1905 law of separation becoming a part of the French constitution in 1945.

The satirical cartoon magazine, Charlie Hebdo, is not new to controversies and is an example of the fierce expression of freedom by the French Press. They had depicted the caricatures of Prophet Muhammed and invited the wrath of Muslims all over the world.On the morning of 7th January 2015, Islamic gunmen entered the office of Charlie Hebdo and started indiscriminate firing killing ten people. Charlie Hebdo announced on the 1st September 2020 that it would republish caricatures of the Prophet sparking widespread violent protests.

The Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was mocked in a front-page cartoon, in his underwear, drinking alcohol and lifting the dress of a woman in Hizab. The Turkish President is not in the best of terms with the French President. Many Muslim countries pressed for the boycott of French products over Macron’s anti-Islamic comments, following the beheading of a French school teacher who showed the caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed published by Charlie Hebdo, as a part of a lesson of free speech.The beheading was followed by another attack on Churchgoers at Nice, where one lady was beheaded and two others killed in a stabbing spree.

The Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, and the Pakistan PM Imran Khan, denounced Macron. In contrast, the Indian PM Modi and the European leaders like Germany’s Angela Merkel and Danish foreign minister Jeppe Kofod defended Macron. The Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohammed went on record stating that the Muslims have the right “to be angry and to kill millions of French people for the massacres of the past.” Mahathir must be condemned by all. Supermarkets in Kuwait and Qatar are boycotting French goods.

The world is not what it used to be, tolerant and friendly. Religious extremists have taken over all religions, and the intellectuals have fallen silent. This negligence must end. The provocation in the name of liberalism and freedom of expression would only further widen every religious minority in every nation. Ancient crimes against humanities are still remembered for revenge with a vengeance, and the recent offences buried deep down.

I am always curious at why the Prophet’s face is not allowed to be shown by Muslims and would be greatly enlightened with some reference only from the Quran on this. A Chinese TV serial showed the Prophet’s face just the other day. But the French are certainly a softer target. I belong to Hinduism with 15% population worldwide. I was never taught to retaliate at non-Hindus blaspheming Hindu Gods. I am merely amused when Hindu political leaders with pride shout “La illah ila Allah Muhammad rasul Allah.” The world has many Gods!

I have not been taught to behead people or shoot to kill people with opposing religious views and try reforming myself first before reforming others, living in harmony and peace.Charlie Hebdo must tone down its provocation, as should the Islamic militancy its violent and despicable beheadings. A religious war is the last that the world can afford amid a pandemic right now.

Om Shanthi!
Sampath KumarIntrépide Voix

Pic: Samuel Pati, the beheaded teacher from Paris