The Clarion

Issue date: 10/22/08 Section: Opinion

One of the primary requirements for a nation to claim itself a democracy is free speech. The liberty to speak about any topic, voice concern over any issue, debate, argue, and generally be disagreeable is paramount to the functionality of a free nation. In this day and age this prized liberty has come under assault from several factors. War, politics, and rising paranoia have all worked together to erode an individuals right to speak. One factor though that hasn't been discussed, but is increasingly responsible for silencing individuals is religion. Whether it is through use of litigation, angry letters, threats, or violence, people across the world are facing a sudden loss of their right to free expression. Across the world free speech is being assaulted.

A recent controversy erupted over the publishing of a book called "The Jewel of Medina," which is about the prophet Mohammad's second wife. The book was initially supposed to be published by Random House but due to objections from a professor of Middle Eastern studies in Austin, TX the book was indefinitely delayed. Professor Denise Spellberg was asked to review the book and provide a comment, however after reading the book she wrote a letter to random house publishing claiming that the book would create a backlash from the Islamic world. She then proceeded to talk to Shahed Amanullah, the host of the popular Muslim website, who forwarded the professors objections to several Muslim student associations without having a chance to read the book himself. Random House, instead of dealing with the controversy as it happened chose to pull the book. This gross act of self-censorship has become the rule our media follows when dealing with religious controversy.

South Park once attempted to air an episode where they depicted the prophet Mohammad but comedy central refused to allow the episode to air. The creators of South Park managed to air the episode but ended it the moment before the image of Mohammad showed in protest of Comedy Centrals self censorship. While self-censorship isn't necessary caused by any particular religious group it does demonstrate the lengths people will go to avoid entanglements. This problem of religions intimidation is not restricted to Islam.

In Israel the rise of Orthodox Judaism as resulted in many areas being classified as off limits to outsiders, or non-orthodox Jews. Several incidents have emerged where those who don't follow the faith, or don't follow the faith properly, have been assaulted. People have been targeted for infractions as small as wearing the wrong cloths. Those committing these acts are part of a growing radical fringe that is slowly gaining power in Israel. This fringe group which supports a more conservative interpretation of Jewish law has won several recent elections and has even become a king maker on the political arena.

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