Muslim-Americans Defend Free Speech, Despite ‘Blasphemous’ Cartoons of Prophet

RNS’ article of the week (linked above), by Omar Sacirbey, looks at Muslim-American reaction to the controvery surrounding the depiction of the Prophet Muhammad in cartoons.

Quotes:

“This is not just a matter of being for freedom of speech and against freedom of speech,” [Junaid] Ahmad, [a student at the College of William and Mary Marshall-Wythe Law School in Williamsburg, Va.], said. “The first thing we should realize is that Muslims don’t accept the basic framework. The principal issue here is not freedom of speech, but the Islamophobic context in which such a caricaturing of the prophet is taking place. I think that’s the issue here.”

Nevertheless, Ahmad said he was against laws restricting such speech. “You can’t give the state too much power. It’s better to fight hate not through laws but education and community organizing and activism.”