ATTACKS on Charlie Hebdo magazine office in Paris by Muslim French nationals angry over the publication of satirical articles and cartoons about Islam and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) must be condemned by all sane elements.

Islam and eminence of its Holy Prophet are not so fragile that irresponsible acts under the garb of freedom of expression can desecrate them. What the world needs is tolerance and respect for sensibilities of all human beings, and not violation in the name of freedom of expression.

Migrants to Europe, the US, Canada, Australia, etc., must understand that having taken the oath of citizenship, it becomes obligatory upon them to obey laws and constitution of the country which they have chosen to live.

If they differ, it is their choice to leave these countries. Such attacks provoke retaliation and provide fuel to extreme right-wing elements in pursuit of hate campaigns such as Islamophobia. It does not serve interests of Islam or Muslims.

Similarly, it is time the Western world realised that if in spite of freedom of expression, legal barriers can be imposed for denying Holocaust in reverence to the sensitivities of 16 million Jews, they should enact laws to ensure that the sentiments of over 1.7 billion Muslims are not hurt by satirical cartoons.

The emergence of extremism is not limited to the Islamic faith alone. We have witnessed Hindu and Buddhist fundamentalists involved in planned massacre of members of other faiths in India and Myanmar, as was done by Serbian Christians in the heart of Europe.

A. M. Tariq

Lahore

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2015

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