International action is necessary to provide protection in law from malevolent ridicule of creed and religious doctrines, writes Ibrahim Nafie Out of awareness of the importance of dialogue and the search of understanding with all nations, we at the Arabs Against Discrimination organisation have invited a number of distinguished Egyptian intellectuals to discuss the matter of the offending cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohamed. The meeting was held last Monday, and we issued a statement the following day. The statement, in my view, provides a subjective and well-reasoned approach to the crisis. The statement notes that the crisis of the offending cartoons has dragged the world to the verge of a collision involving nations, cultures and civilisations. This is a situation that endangers the future of humanity, with all its races, creeds, and civilisations. "Such offences are totally repugnant to all people of all walks of life, whether because they constitute an insult to one of the most important Islamic sanctities or because of their clear racist discrimination against all Muslims," the statement says. The statement makes a distinction between the freedom of speech and opinion, which is a worthy human ideal, and insults to sanctities and beliefs. The statement says that the freedom of expression must be respected "as a basic ideal that pertains to a common set of higher human values, one that denotes respect to others -- regardless of their leanings, cultures and beliefs." The statement warns of attempts to draw the world into a collision of civilisations and cultures. "There are those on both sides of the divide who are attempting to fuel a collision of nations, cultures and civilisations. But common human interest calls for bolstering dialogue and co-existence among nations on a ground of mutual respect, equality, and recognition of differences in accordance of the principle of creative cultural diversity as interpreted by each of the parties concerned." The statement points to the need to divert the energies of Arab and Islamic people to constructive work that would improve their situation. "We understand and appreciate the energy and symptoms of virtuous outrage shared by Arab and Muslim people. This energy needs to be directed towards a comprehensive reform of their conditions in a manner that would create a new and healthy reality, one that offers a positive and true image of Arabs and Muslims in the world." Following a thorough discussion of the crisis triggered by the offending cartoons, the conferees assessed the reaction of various parties. "The positions taken by the Danish government since the beginning of the crisis have been characterised with mismanagement. We call on the Danish government to reconsider its positions and denounce the publication of these drawings, not only because they are offensive to the sanctities of Muslims, who are a part of the Danish people, but also because they generally convey the kind of ethnic and moral discrimination unacceptable under Danish and European laws and international treaties and agreements." The statement calls on the UN and its organisations to issue a decision banning offences against beliefs, sanctities, cultures, and religious doctrines and to enshrine the ban in an international agreement. The conferees expressed appreciation for the crucial role played by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and the Arab League, and called upon these two organisations -- along with the EU and all regional organisations and civil society groups across the world -- to support the call for an international agreement banning offences against all creeds. The statement asserts the right of all people for peaceful protest against offences to their sanctities, beliefs and cultures and calls for legal measures to be taken, nationally and internationally, to provide protection to those sanctities. The conferees asked Arabs Against Discrimination to follow up on the matter with all concerned organisations, entities and individuals. In addition, the conferees launched a forum for defending the freedom of opinion and expression. The discussion held at the Arabs Against Discrimination organisation, and the final statement, is a superb example of reason taking a vanguard role in tackling our problems. The conferees went beyond emotional reaction and random protest to address the heart of the matter. The statement is now available on www.aad-online.org in Arabic, English and French.
