Tag: #FreedomofSpeech

Pamela Geller Has a Right to Free Speech – Not Threatened by Terrorist Violence

On Sunday night, a terrorist attack in Garland, Texas resulted in the death of two terrorist gunmen (Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi), and the injury of a security guard. As described by media outlets, the attack was made on an event held by the American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI), an organization led by Pamela Geller.  The terrorist gunmen drove up to the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland on Sunday night as the event was coming to an end and shot at the security officer, Bruce Joiner, who was shot in the leg.  Garland police returned fire and killed the two terrorist gunmen.

Rita Katz of the SITE Institute reports that one of the men, Elton Simpson communicated with a U.S.-Somali terrorist “Mujahid Miski,” who urged the attack.  Responsible for Equality And Liberty has a statement of defiance and rejection to those terrorists who believe that their violence will deny the universal human rights of our fellow human beings.  Nadir Soofi was not under the scrutiny of law enforcement sources. In addition, the Dallas Morning News provided a report on May 5, 2015, stating that ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack in an audio recording: “We tell America that what is coming is more bitter and harder and you will see from the soldiers of the Caliphate what harms you.”

The terrorist attack happened as Ms. Geller  was finishing her speech in the Curtis Culwell Center to other attendees and media covering the event in what they called the “Muhammad Art Exhibit and Cartoon Contest.”  CNN has reported on other similar attacks.

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) rejects all terrorist violence, without qualification, everywhere, and all the time.  Such terrorism is a direct attack on our fellow human beings and on their universal human rights.

We do not have to agree with free speech of others.  Our free speech is shared, and we can protest speech we find objectionable.  Not just the United States of America, but also the nations of the world have agreed to this in our Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), including Article 19 (freedom of expression), Article 18 (freedom of thought), and Article 20 (freedom of peaceful assembly). Like our shared free speech, we have shared universal human rights of security, in accordance with Article 3 of the UDHR.  Furthermore, this is defended in accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Part III, Article 19 (freedom of expression).

We do not have to agree with or like the peaceful speech or actions by another group. But they have a right to that peaceful speech when it is not criminally calling for the murder or violence against another person.

I didn’t like Charlie Hebdo’s cartoons, either. But I don’t HAVE to like them. They have the right to their free speech nonetheless, and the terrorist violence in response to free speech is always wrong. Furthermore, it is a WAR – a war on our shared universal human rights.

In fact, I passionately disagree with Ms. Geller, her AFDI organization, her SIOA organization, her anti-Islam extremist stance, and her provocative tactics. I have written many times, at length of my disagreement with Ms. Geller, and our rejection of her views and actions.    I have seen some of vitriolic images her SIOA organization members have previously posted of Muhammad, and to say that many were objectionable and disgusting would be the understatement of the century.  But like so many in the world, I believe she is doing what she thinks is the right thing to do, as much as I disagree with her extremist views.

While we can disagree, even passionately disagree with such views, comments, and insulting cartoons, when terrorists seek to silence public debate with their guns, bombs, knives, and other weapons of war, then even those of us who passionately disagree have a common threat.

According to our Universal Declaration of Human Rights, she and her organization have the right to freedom of thought and expression without being the target of a terrorist attack.

We either do or do not believe in these universal human rights.  Not just when it is convenient, pleasant, or for those with whom we agree.  This is what distinguishes us from those who seek the oppression of the world, using many arguments, many tactics, and many violent actions. Our universal human rights are shared by all of us, everywhere, all the time.

There are those who may find the AFDI’s views objectionable or who disagree with it, and may choose to believe this gives them the privilege to look the other way at a terrorist attack on free speech. But when we allow that, what will happen next time, when it is your free speech?  Next time, will it be YOUR freedom of expression that terrorists threaten?

We are also seeing Twitter being used as a tool for universal communications in many ways, some good, some bad. It is a tool. How the tool is used is up to our fellow human beings. But what we see this morning (and last night) is that there have been too many who have used this tool to call for new attacks of violence against people with who them disagree.

As you can see, some call for new terrorism, some praise existing terrorism, some threaten the “kuffar.” Some post graphic images of beheaded individuals and threaten to do this to others who publish such cartoons. One threatens “stop insulting the Prophet Muhammad or come your heads everywhere,” as an ISIS beheading video is posted. Others are advised to provide their Twitter threats in Arabic so that the “right community” can read them.

Let us be clear: our universal human rights are for all people. Not just for people of one religion, one race, one ethnic group, one nationality. They are not for just one country or one region of the world. Our universal human rights are UNIVERSAL. This is where we must stand united.  If there is a war, this is what we must all be fighting to defend.

The L.A. Times quotes Ms. Geller as stating “This is war on free speech. What are we going to do? Are we going to surrender to these monsters?” On this point, Ms. Geller is right. This war on free speech must not go unchallenged in the United States, just like those threatening a war on free speech have been challenged in France and the rest of the world.

We must take a stand on this.  When it comes to this violent terrorist attack on freedom of expression, I stand beside Pamela Geller and all those whose free expression is threatened by terrorist violence. Because if we surrender on their universal human rights, we are not just surrendering on their speech and expression, but we are surrendering the free speech and expression of all Americans and all of our fellow human beings.

#JeSuisPamelaGeller

#JeSuisPamelaGeller --Photo of Pamela Geller (Source Twitter)
#JeSuisPamelaGeller –Photo of Pamela Geller (Source Twitter)

According to the media – prior to the terrorist attack – Elton Simpson’s Twitter account was being using to send messages sympathetic to the ISIS organization and its terrorism.  SITE reports that Elton Simpson communicated with a U.S.-Somali terrorist “Mujahid Miski,” who urged the attack.

The second terrorist was named as Nadir Soofi, who had numerous contacts within both the United States and Pakistan.  Nadir Soofi was the follower of extremist cleric Zarkir Naik (recently given an award by the Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz), extremist cleric Sheik Khalid Yasin (aka Abu Muhammad).  Nadir Soofi was also a follower and fan of Ossama Elshamy, who was a well-known speaker of Islamic media groups in Washington DC and elsewhere.

To Somali terrorist “Mujahid Miski,” who uses the Twitter tool to groom others and encourage them to commit terrorism, and who reportedly inspired Elton Simpson – as well as to all terrorists.

We are NOT AFRAID OF YOU.

We say this in public – and we say it to your face.

No-Fear

Criminals are a cowardly lot.  They seek to sneak up on the helpless, the defenseless, and those who they think cannot fight back.   They use their cowardice to seek to inspire “terror,” but they truly only inspire defiance instead.

Our support for our universal human rights is essential for the equality, liberty, dignity, and security of all of our fellow human beings.  I urge all of my Muslim friends who work for human rights every day to also speak out to challenge the cowards who think they will terrorize free men and women in our world.

We reject and denounce those in the media and politics who feel freedom of expression is expendable to those they disagree with. This is wrong and it is a categorical rejection of our shared universal human rights. We either have such freedoms or we do not. It is essential to make it clear that we have such shared freedoms as part of our human rights, and to be responsible for their defense.

If we are responsible for human rights, it is not just when it is convenient. It is especially important when it is not convenient and when it is challenging to do so. That when we know that we are really….

Responsible for Equality And Liberty

and it is always another GOOD DAY to be responsible for equality and liberty.

Orange Ribbon for Universal Human Rights - Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)
Orange Ribbon for Universal Human Rights – Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)

Pope Francis: Religious Offense Does Not Justify Violence – Per Our Laws and Universal Human Rights

We cannot respond to offense to our religious views with violence. It is against our universal human rights and the laws of free nations who respect these rights This is the unequivocal statement we needed by all of our religious leaders. The comments by his Holiness, Pope Francis used to rationalize violence are wrong and must be rejected by human right leaders, and hopefully all Catholics. The leader of a religious branch with 1.2 billion followers rationalizing violence for offense against religion is a major human rights challenge. We cannot live together on this Earth when every offense is justified by violence.

Let us be clear in our support on human rights, public calls for violence against others is not acceptable as a demonstration of our universal human rights, because that rejects the universal human rights of security. It is also typically against the LAW in most nations. There is a big difference between criticizing an ideology, a group, and even a religion – versus calling for violence. When we do criticize ideologies involving religious views, responsible people need to be careful not to attack all. But there is a difference between disagreeing with or challenging a religion or its views, and calls for violence.

Even when we challenge those who will make blanket attacks on a religious identity group, we must challenge a view that violence is acceptable. There is a difference between views against a religious group and calls for violence against adherents of that faith. In most nations, it is the law. So when Pope Francis suggests that we have no right to challenge and even mock religious views, I understand his personal opinion on that, but this is not in conformance with our universal human rights, where in fact we do have freedom of speech to challenge the views of others.

But when Pope Francis tries to use an analogy, regarding offensive remarks to one’s religious views, that “if you curse my mother, I will punch you,” no I am sorry that is exactly what is wrong in the world today.

On January 16, 2015, in response to a question on the recent terror attacks in Paris, Roman Catholic Pope Francis made remarks that “One cannot provoke, one cannot insult other people’s faith, one cannot make fun of faith.” Pope Francis continued, “If Dr. Gasbarri, a great friend, says a swear word against my mother, he’s going to get a punch in the nose. That’s normal, it’s normal. One cannot provoke, one cannot insult other people’s faith, one cannot make fun of faith.” Pope Francis concluded that: “There are so many people who speak badly about religions, who make fun of them… they are provocateurs. And what happens to them is what would happen to (my dear friend) if he says a word against my mother.”

In fact, religious violence is not “normal.” It is wrong, it rejects our universal human rights, and let us be clear – it is criminal.

Tolerance of calls for violence should have no place for religious leaders, and no place those supporting our universal human rights. Furthermore, rationalizing violence against those who offend the religion of others is not only wrong, it is a threat to our shared universal human rights.

Now as a private individuals, we very much understand how offended and angry one would get from someone else “cursing your mother,” as Pope Francis states.

Pope Francis states that “One cannot provoke, one cannot insult other people’s faith, one cannot make fun of faith.” Well, in this world Pope Francis this does and will happen. We cannot expect that we have right to use violence against those who do.

Pope Francis can indeed “punch” Dr. Gasbarri for his offense to the Pope, but then Pope Francis, according to the law, can expect to be arrested as a criminal. In fact, that is the point. That is why we have laws to protect our fellow human beings from violence.

Now in the same statement, Pope Francis “One cannot make war (or) kill in the name of one’s own religion.” But indicating that violence is acceptable for offense to one’s religion leads directly to that path, which too many have taken over time, and which has led to terrorist murders around the world. It started with the idea that violence was acceptable in response to words and behavior viewed offensive to others.

People of faith and compassion reject the offensive defamation and mockery of the religion of others.

People of compassion also know that violence is never a “normal” response to anyone perceived “offense” of their religious views.  Not even a “punch in the nose.”

When violence becomes an acceptable “normal” response, the freedom and rights of all people to practice their faith is endangered. We have seen this around the world with people of faith and houses of worship attacked, bombed, and burned by those extremists who view another religion’s worship is “offensive” to their faith. This is the ultimate result of accepting a view that any violence would be “normal” to those religious views are offended.

Furthermore, in the nation of Pakistan, those actively following the human rights oppression of Christians and people of other faiths have seen the human tragedy that an institutional view of blasphemy creates.

But this tragedy begins with the view that violence can be perceived as a “normal” response to those who “offend” one’s religious views. We have learned how this thinking has led to the torture and murder,destruction of families, and attacks and destruction of houses of worship.

The world does not need, and human rights leaders must be consistent in rejecting threats from any religious leader that seeks to call for violence in response to offense to their religious views.

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L) urges you to reach out within the Catholic faithful and religious leaders to call to his Holiness, Pope Francis on this. Our human rights group, Responsible for Equality And Liberty, calls for Pope Francis to retract his January 16, 2015 comments, where he indicates that it is “normal” for people to use violence when our religious views are offended. R.E.A.L. calls upon our Catholic brothers and sisters to reject such a view and for Pope Francis to retract his comments and renounce violence in every case for those would use it justify it by offense to their religious views.  We further urge his Holiness, Pope Francis, to retract his comments based on his knowledge and teaching of the Holy Bible itself, particularly as referenced in John 13:34-35 and Romans 12:17-21.  Every Christian knows the “new commandment” instructed to all Christians.

R.E.A.L. has long defended the human rights, dignity, and freedom of worship of our Catholic brothers and sisters in humanity, and we call upon the Catholic faithful to stand united behind the words in their Holy Bible on such subjects and in defense of fellow Christians and Catholic Christians around the world.

Acting with violence because we are offended may seem justifiable to those who are outraged, but in our world we have laws. The use or call of violence for those who are offended is against the laws of most nations, but most importantly it is against our shared universal human rights of all people.

To those who have witnessed and shared the struggle for our universal human rights around the worldwide, we have seen how those “offended” by comments against their religion can lead to denial of freedom, imprisonment, violence, and death. We have seen people arrested and killed for “blasphemy.” We have seen those whose view of “provocation” and “insult” to their religion is no more than someone else practicing their religion.

Most of all, the Catholic people have been victims of those who are “offended” that Catholic have freedom of worship, which “insults” extremists who believe that worship by Catholics is an insult to their religion. We have seen this with different religious extremists and we have seen this around the world. Someone need to make Pope Francis aware of this, as apparently he is not. Catholics have suffered and are oppressed around the world – specifically because of this line of thinking, which Pope Francis now expresses, that those who feel their religion is offended can result to violence.

St. Theresa Catholic Church at Madalla, Suleja - Christmas Day Bombing of Catholic Church by Extremists Killing 40 Catholics - Extremists found Catholics Worship to be "Offensive" (Source: REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde)

What type of “punch in the nose” have Catholics received by those offended by the practice of their faith?

— In Pakistan, Roman Catholic church attacked in Punjab town with 15 worshipers dead.
— In India, Roman Catholic St. Sebastian Church in Delhi burned to the ground, by neo-Hindu extremist against Catholics.
— In the Congo, a crowded Roman Catholic Church set fire in the Congolese village of Tora, by the LRA, with their unique combined mysticist and Christianist views.
— In Nigeria, Roman Catholic St. Theresa Catholic Church Madalla, Suleja, just outside Nigeria’s capital Abuja, bombed and burned down, killing 40 worshipers, and St. Charles church bombed killing Catholic worshipers, among other attacks.
— In Malaysia, Roman Catholic St, John Britto Catholic Church, Church of the Assumption, Church of St. Elizabeth, and other churches attacked by mobs offended by the use of the word “Allah” in a Roman Catholic newspaper.
— In Pakistan, attacks and attempts to burn down the the St. Thomas parish, located in Wah Cantt
— In Indonesia, attacks on the Parahyangan Catholic University in Bandung, West Java.
— In Egypt, a Coptic Catholic church in the Egyptian town of Kafr el Sheij was burned to the ground by extremists.

Pope Francis your comments that violence is a “normal” reaction to offense against your religion are dangerous to all people of faith. They do not represent our shared universal human rights. They do not represent the laws of free nations. They do not represent guidance in the Holy Bible itself. As a representative of a faith of 1.2 billion, your comments must be retracted – not just for the public, but especially for Catholics and Christians, who have a struggle for religious freedom and security around the world.

Responsible for Equality And Liberty calls upon Pope Francis to retract for his statements on this subject, based on our respect for our shared human rights and security for all people of all faiths and all conscience.

Those who the faithful pray to do not need us to wave our upraised fists; they need us to set an example by our outstretched hands, even to those who offend us.