Freedom of expression or arbitrary of Charley Abdo and France?
France is boiling. Muslim countries are restless. Now it is a matter of concern for the whole world. France and Muslim countries have come up against each other. Both have their own arguments - freedom of expression and hurt religious sentiments. It started with a cartoon by Sharley Abdo. It is a French satirical weekly magazine. It printed a cartoon of Muhammad Sahab.
The controversy of the release of this cartoon almost 9 years ago has taken the form of violence. It seems that now Islam and Christianity have come face to face. What is this dispute after all? Is France's logic of freedom of expression correct?
Is Sharley Abdo deliberately creating controversy by printing a cartoon of Muhammad Sahab? What kind of system is there in France?
Journalist and filmmaker Niharika has lived in France for a long time and knows France's society, country and culture well. She says that to understand the whole matter one has to understand the nature of Charley Abdo and France.
She says this is not the first time in France. It's done in 2012. In 2011, Sharli Abdo printed Muhammad Sahab's cartoons. Now again this controversy grew when a professor of history showed cartoons of Charley Abdo while giving a lecture on freedom of expression. After this, the professor was killed as soon as he left the class.
Niharika says in gestures that the arrangement in France is reflected in the statement of President Emmanuel Macron. At the funeral of the slain teacher, French President Macron said that every person in the country has freedom of expression. He said that we will not ban any kind of cartoon and design, it is the legal right of the country.
French President Emmanuel Macron made it clear that he would not abandon cartoons and design and would continue to pursue music, literature, art, and culture in the same way that France's culture has been.
Nature of charlie abdo
Niharika says that Sharley Abdo's nature is provocative. This is a fierce leftist magazine. It is a weekly magazine. Similar provocative material has been published in it. In this, similar material has been printed and mocked not only for Islam but also for Catholics. Whereas France itself was a Catholic country. She says that when Sharley Abdo printed material about a particular community, a debate started about the extent of freedom of expression and freedom of aggression.
Niharika says that discussions on TV, radio in France were very common and people listened to them and listened with an open heart. But it took a full stop when 12 people were killed. She says that then those who were not in favor of making cartoons against anyone's feelings also became in favor of Sharlee Abdo.
After killing 12 people, it did not only happen in France but it happened all over the world and people stood in favor of Charley Abdo. There was a campaign that if this is the result, we will not be afraid. This was one of its messages.
She says
'You are allowed to perform, sit on a dharna, go to court. As before. In 2011-12, when Sharlee Abdo printed Muhammad Sahab's cartoons and there was a worldwide reaction. The Muslim Society here went to court. After the court case, which was the then President Jacques Chirac, he said that no one should print or create anything that provokes a person's faith, especially religious sentiments. '
But people like Sarkozy and François Olan supported freedom of expression and said that we want everyone to have complete freedom of expression. That is, he was seen standing in favor of Charley Abdo.
Niharika says that but the same Sarkozy's son, the same Charley Abdo magazine, printed a lot of Vulgar cartoons. For this, the owner of the magazine fired the famous cartoonist. For this the cartoonist went to court and he won the court case. Charley Abdo lost the case and the cartoonist was given compensation from the court. The court said in its remarks that it was the freedom of his expression to make cartoons of any kind and that Charley Abdo printed them.
Niharika says that in France at this time there are 37 percent of the people who believe in God. It includes people of all religions. There are 35 percent who do not believe in God. 15 are anonymous. 7% people are unable to decide whether they believe in God or not. The rest are of other views.
She says that France was a country that was completely Catholic. When social reform took place in 68–69, the whole face changed. Until 69 Catholicism was taught in schools. Religion classes were conducted. The Bible was often taught there.
She says that this is the slogan in France - freedom, brotherhood and equality. It is written in the constitution that you cannot use religious symbol in any public and government place. Under this, the wearing of burqas and wearing of turbans was prohibited.
She says that it is clearly written in the French constitution that if we want to maintain equality, religion has to be kept separate from the country. She insists that her body was taken to the church recently when a big singer died. Everyone gave discourse (address) inside the church but French President Emmanuel Macron delivered discourse (address) from outside the church as Singer was considered the property of the country and the president of the country did not go inside the church.
She says that there are about four million Muslims in France, excluding Origins Muslims. Of the total Muslim population in the country, 30 percent of the people go to Masjid, offer Namaz. Other people do not do this. About 70 percent of the people in the country do not believe in religion. The number of people following the religion is very less.
Nivedita mentions about an incident and says,
"We were all having dinner. A friend of mine who is a Catholic, a very Catholic, said three-four times in everything - 'Now God is the master'," God will fix it ". Another friend scolded him" Stop your idiots ".
But if the same thing is said to an Islamic person, there is a kind of migration. But here it is common on the table. In this society. The institution I work in is a Catholic institution and most of the people who come there are Muslims. "
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