[At the 15th july 2021 crime reporter Peter R de Vries died, after beenshot in the streets of Amsterdam on 6th july. [2]I honor him, because he was far more than just a crime reporter and an investigator of criminal cold cases, but also a defender of the rights of unheard, like refugees and minorities.Therefore my hommageMay he rest in peace]
Peter R de Vries, the fearless crimefighter and advocate for the rights of the unheard, reminds me of a fictional character of oneof my favourite films ”Legends of the Fall” [3], colonel William Ludlow, whomoves his family to a ranch in Montana out of indignation and dissatisfactionwith the treatment of the American government against the native Americans . [4]In my terms:He fled for aggressive racist white Supremacy”In his terms:,”Losing the madness” [5]By the way:A must see film for you, readers! [6] Fearless and lovers of justice they both shared, fictional ColonelLudlow and crimefighter Peter R de VriesThe one retreated [as was the best thing he could do inpre WO I White supremacist America] and founded his Paradisein Montana, the other fought [as was the best thing to do innowadays the Netherlands]
So like Colonel Ludlow, Peter R de Vries was fearless and obsessed with justice, investigating cold cases [7] and what says more:Achieving great results! [8]
FEARLESS Fearless he was, his motto was:”On bended knee it’s no way to be free” [9] He was also tenacious, never gave up. [10] I don’t have to mention all his successes;Look at his Wikipedia! [11]His last effort was his assistence of the crown witness, Nabil B [12]in the Marengo process, the greatest drug trial in the history of the Netherlands [13]Perhaps that involvement costed him his life, as the Public Prosecuter’s Officethinks is ”more likely” [but nothing is sure, yet, all optionsare still open] [14] ADVOCATE FOR THE UNHEARD Although I admired Peter R de Vries for his great involvement in solvingcold cases and his support for the families of the victims [15], that’s notthe first reason I write this tribute to him. My reason is, that he was not only a dedicated crime fighter, but alsoan advocate of the rights of the unheard and victims of stogmatizationand discrimination.
HIS FIGHT AGAINST PVV LEADER G WILDERS Peter R de Vries was a fervent opponent of fascist PVV leader G Wilders [17]In his diary, he wrote ”Ik vind Geert W. zelf een gevaarlijk man, een demagoog met de potentievan een volksmenner.” [Translated in English: I think Geert W is a dangerous man, a demagogue with the potention of a people’s agitator” [18]
For his contribution to the fight against racism and IslamophobiaI sent Peter R de Vries an appreciation-mail [19]The price he paid for his Wilders criticism was a great number ofhatemails [20]I wonder how many of those people, wholay flowers at the place he was shot [21], were among those haters……
CHAMPION FOR THE RIGHTS OF REFUGEES But Peter R de Vries did more:In a time and on a moment, that there was much resistanceagainst the coming of Syrian refugees to the Netherlands, who hadfled the war in Syria [22], Peter R de Vries stood firm for the refugee rights, he wrote this statement:”Respect and admiration for the refugees! [23]I quote from this statement among else:”Sometimes it seems that in public debate about the refugees it is no longer about people, but only about numbers, percentages, quotas and files. Often the refugee issue is discussed in a detached and intolerant tone of voice; like asylum seekers and refugees are profiteers who are here to seek fortune”AND”It has always amazed me how easily and lightly people condemn refugees about leaving their homeland; like it is a tempting challenge to build a new life in another country, with an incomprehensible language, different culture and a harsh climate. Like people just do that for fun…!”AND”And that is why I would like to emphasize that I have the upmost respect and admiration for those who have abandoned their homes in desperation for doom and disaster and are trying, with great difficulty, to build up a new life in a foreign country. In my opinion they should never have to hide or be ashamed; they can be proud, with their heads held high, because what they have achieved, what they have defied and what they have sacrificed more than most of us would dare or could bear. That is something we should be more aware off…” [24]
True and impressive words and again I sent him a appreciation-mail! [25] STATELESS REFUGEES But apart from writing, Peter R de Vries came in action!He helped a group of ”General Pardonners”, who were allowedto remain in the Netherlands, but yet didn’t become a passport,which made them ”stateless”By his effort [and of course from others] [26], State Secretary Ankie Broekers-Knol of Asylum Affairs made it possible that ten thousand so-called general pardonners can still get a passport. [27]One of the ten thousand stateless General Pardonners,Yosef Tekeste-Yemane, [who turned to de Vries about this humanitarian question] remarked:[comment after the shooting of Peter R de Vries]:”I hope he will still get what he has achieved.” [28] He also remarked:””He saw the injustice and got caught up in it, he was determined to help us and hoped the media would warm to this.” [29] And it worked!
EPILOGUE In his own way, Peter R de Vries made a great contribution inthe fight against injustice..Not only because of the fearless and tenacious way, he fought as a crime reporter [30], but for what he did for refugees.In the fight against racism, prejudices and Islamophobia. Therefore for me, he is a great man.I will not forget him! May he rest in peace. Astrid Essed NOTES Notes 1 t/m 20 https://www.astridessed.nl/notes-1-t-m-20-at-tribute-to-peter-r-de-vries/
ATTACKS IN FRANCE/SAMUEL PATY, NICE/PRESIDENT MACRON’S ISLAMOPHOBIC HYSTERIA
The title translates as “Racist Blue Union.” (Charlie Hebdo)
This was the reason why I called Charlie Hebdo not only Islamophobe, but alsoracistTheir cartoon of the black French Gyanese minister of Justice, ChristianeTabira
“If the same thing happens tomorrow, I wouldn’t hesitate to save people. I don’t want to see discrimination between Muslims, Jews, or Christians. Terror has no place in these religions. Terror is terror everywhere.” As said Tayyip Gultekin, a Turkish man, living in Austria, who togetherwith another Turkish man, Mikail Ozen, saved the lives of a police officer andtwo women during the Vienna attack in november 2020 https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/two-austrian-turks-save-policeman-and-two-elderly-women-in-vienna-attack-41129
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Vienna_attack
People say I’m a hero but I’m not a hero. I’m Lassana,” he said at the ceremony.
“I’ll stay the same. I would do the same again, because I was following my heart.”
So said Lassana Bathily, the Malinese muslim, who saved
6 customers of a Jewish store, that was also under attack during
the attacks on the Charlie Hebdo newspaper in 2015
In october 2020, France was startled by two criminal attacks on civilians,
Austria, too, by one criminal attack, also in october, 2020. [1]
Despite the horroble things you daily read and see in the news, yet I was rather stunned by learning of the bizarre beheading, by an 18 years old Chechen muslim, Abdoullakh Abouyedovich Anzorov [who was killed by the police], of the French middle school teacher Samuel Paty, who taught history, geographics and civics.
Reason:
In a lesson about freedom of opinion, Paty had shown his student
the notorious Charlie Hebdo 2012 cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.
[2]
And that was not all:
Along came a second attack, possibly still more bizarre:
The stabbing of three people, who died of it, by a 21 Tunesian suspect. [3]
I wrote: ” still more bizarre”, because this happened in a Church in Nice…..[4]
A Church…….
But there was more:
The third attack, in the same month [october] took place in Vienna, where
a gunman opened fire on innocent civilians in the city centre of Vienna. [5]
But there also was another side of the story:
In Vienna, two Turkish migrants who live in Austria saved the lives of
a police officer and two elderly women! [6]
Recep Tayyip Gultekin, one of the saviour Turks, added to his action of courage and
humanity:
”“If the same thing happens tomorrow, I wouldn’t hesitate to save people. I don’t want to see discrimination between Muslims, Jews, or Christians. Terror has no place in these religions. Terror is terror everywhere.” [7]
That is the Spirit of true religion, whether Christianity, Islam, Judaism or any other religion or life philosphy.
REACTION OF THE FRENCH STATE ON THE ATTACKS
So far so good [or rather said: so bad]
And let there is no misunderstanding
Those three attacks on innocent civilians were horrible.
But that doesn’t mean that State reactions neglect elementary rights!
And elementary rights are not to be discriminated against, not
impose collective punishment, not to condemn without proof!
And that’s exactly what the French government did to
the muslim community in France!
THE STORM/ISLAMOPHOBIA IN EUROPE
Since 11 september 2001, a storm of Islamophobia came
over the Western countries.
In the Netherlands figures like the political fascist PVV leader
G Wilders, as the Islamophobic politician Ayaan Hirsi Ali [8]
In other Western countries the same negative developments took place.
The whole political
climate changed, since every attack from muslim
perpetrators had been reacted negatively on the whole muslim community.
Also Islamophobic provocations went on and on, as the
Muhammed cartoons, published by the Jylands Posten.
And in nearly all cases I stroke back, as in the case of
the Muhammed cartoons publications. [9]
Not to mention the general Islamophobia in Europe! [10]
Under note 11 a report on Islamophobia in France, of 2016 [11]
But there is a lot to read about this subject, alas.
Search for yourself at Google!
BACK TO FRANCE/ISLAMOPHOBIC REACTION AND MEASURES OF THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT
BACK TO THE FRANCE STATE/ISLAMOPHOBIC MEASURES
In fact, the reaction of the French government was no more or less than a declaration of war against muslims in France and international!
Instead of an appeal for unity, French government polarized by the showing of the offending Charlie Hebdo Muhammad cartoons, hanging from French government buildings [12], thus violating article 1 of the French Constitution, stating equality and respect for everyone regardless descent, race or religion, as respect for all religion. [13] But French State madness was not over yet: To add insult to injury, president Macron stated, that ”France will not give up cartoons” in a homage to the beheaded school teacher. [14]GREAT! Are the muslims in France, who are offended by those disrespectful cartoons,not also France?No wonder some islamic countries started a boycott against French products! [15] The reaction of the French government was demanding, as if France still were a colonial Power!The french minister of Foreign Affairs stated as a reaction to the boycot calls:””These calls for boycott are baseless and should stop immediately, as well as all attacks against our country, which are being pushed by a radical minority,” [16]Not only a neo colonial and arrogant reaction, but also implying as if the countries, that appeal for the boycott, had anything to do with the recent attacks.Perhaps this minister and his government have to learn, thatthe days of French colonialism are over? THE WORST:MEASURES AGAINST ISLAMIC ORGANISATIONS IN FRANCE And now comes the worst! The third action of the French government was the more discriminatory:Minister of Internal Affairs Damartin announced the prohibition of a number of islamic organisations, being ”enemies of the Republic” [17]ENEMIES OF THE REPUBLIC? Readers, does it remember you of the ”fifth column” demonization? [18]Moreover: Without any given proof or connection with any terrorist attack, thus alienating the majority of peaceful muslims in France!GREAT, AGAIN! An example of Damartin’s witch hunt is the CCIF, a reliable collective that fights Islamophobia in France [19] AND SO LOW, TO LASH OUT AT REFUGEES! The intention is also the deportation of illegal refugees, who received thelabel ”muslimextremists” without any proof of involvement with any terrorist attack . [20]
EPILOGUE Those measures, punishing a number of islamic organisations with no proven connections whatever with the attackers, for their deeds is a form of”collective punishment” [21], fitting in a police State, not in a democracy, whichFrance claims to be. [22] To add my voice to the diminishing number of people and organisations, that fight against Islamophobia, discrimination and also racism, I wrote this article, I also protested by the way of a Letter to the Editor, which I sent to a number ofFrench, American, British and Turkish newspapers. [23]I also protested in a Letter to the Editor in Dutch, sending it to a numberof Dutch and Belgian newspapers. This was my contribution. Readers, do you follow, fighting injustice! Astrid Essed SEE FOR NOTES
Dear Readers, It is sad, but true:Since the bizarre beheading of the French middle school teacher Samuel Patyby by an 18 years old Chechen muslim, Abdoullakh Abouyedovich Anzorov [who was killed by the police], because of showing his students the Charlie Hebdo 2012 Muhammad cartoons, followed by the stabbing of three Church visitors in aChurch in Nice by a 21 Tunesian suspect [1], the French government launched a severe attack on the French muslim community, which can only be described as a ”collective punishment. [2] In fact, the reaction of the French government was no more or lessthan a declaration of war against muslims in France and international.The first bizarre action was the showing of the offending Charlie Hebdo Muhammad cartoons, hanging from French government buildings [3], thus violating article 1 of the French Constitution, stating equality and respect for everyone regardless descent, race or religion, as respect for all religion. [4] But that was not enough!To add insult to injury, president Macron stated, that ”France will not give up cartoons” in a homage to the beheaded school teacher. [5] Are the muslims in France, who are offended by those disrespectful cartoons,not also France?No wonder some islamic countries started a boycott against French products! [6] BUT THAT ISN’T ALL!The third action of the French government was the more discriminatory:Minister of Internal Affairs Damartin announced the prohibition of a number of islamic organisations, being ”enemies of the Republic” [7], without any given proof or connection with any terrorist attack, thus alienating the majority of peaceful muslims in France.An example of Damartin’s witch hunt is the CCIF, a collective that fights Islamophobia in France. [8]
REFUGEESThe intention is also the deportation of illegal refugees, who received thelabel ”muslimextremists” without any proof of involvement with any terrorist attack . [9]
Because those recent French measures belong, to my opinion, in a police Stateand not in a country, that calls itself ”democratic” [10], I have sent a Letter tothe Editor to a number od American, British, French and Turkish newspapers. I have no idea, of course, whether they publish it orf not, but Iwished to share it with you. So here it comes, after the link to the notes ENJOY READING!
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: TITLE THE WITCH HUNT OF PRESIDENT MACRON AND HIS TEAM ONTHE FRENCH MUSLIM COMMUNITY
Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor,
This is the limit!Since the bizarre beheading of the French middle schoolteacher Samuel Patyby an 18 years old Chechen muslim, Abdoullakh Abouyedovich Anzorov [whowas killed by the police], because of showing his students the Charlie Hebdo 2012 Muhammad cartoons, followed by the stabbing of three Church visitors in aChurch in Nice by a 21 Tunesian suspect, two very tragic events, all Hell broke out in France.Because the [re]actions of the French government were a de facto declaration of war to muslims, not only in France, but also international.Immediately after the news broke out about the beheading of the school teacher, the French government got bananas.The first bizarre action was the showing of the offending Charlie Hebdo Muhammad cartoons, hanging from French government buildings, violating article 1 of the French Constitution, stating equality and respect for everyone regardless descent, race or religion, as respect for all religions.Although the showing of the cartoons pretended to be in the name of”freedom ofopinion”, the French government knew full well, that many muslims, asIslamic countries, would consider it as a declaration of war.Again, a for muslims holy symbol as the Prophet Muhammed was shownon a disrespectful way, this time by a ”neutral” government.To add insult to injury, president Macron stated, that ”France will not giveup cartoons” in a homage to the beheaded school teacher.Do then the muslims in France not belong to France?No wonder some islamic countries started a boycott against French products.The third action of the French government was the more discriminatory:Minister of Internal Affairs Damartin announced the prohibition of a numberof islamic organisations, being ”enemies of the Republic”, withoutany given proof or connection with any terrorist attack, thus alienating the majority of peaceful muslims in France.An example of Damartin’s witch hunt is the CCIF, a collective that fights Islamophobia in France.The intention is also the deportation of illegal refugees, who received thelabel ”muslimextremists” without any proof of involvement with any terroristattack.In my view as the view of International Law, this is a ”collective punishment” This is no State policy anymore, but a ruthless witch hunt, which has nothing to do with democracy, but with a police State.Especially in those times, dangerous for France, the French government should connect, not polarize.
Astrid EssedAmsterdamThe Netherlands
Reacties uitgeschakeld voor Islamophobia in France/The witch hunt of president Macron and his team on the French muslim community
THE WITCH HUNT OF PRESIDENT MACRON AND HIS TEAM ON THE FRENCH MUSLIM COMMUNITY
Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor,
This is the limit!Since the bizarre beheading of the French middle schoolteacher Samuel Patyby an 18 years old Chechen muslim, Abdoullakh Abouyedovich Anzorov [whowas killed by the police], because of showing his students the Charlie Hebdo 2012 Muhammad cartoons, followed by the stabbing of three Church visitors in aChurch in Nice by a 21 Tunesian suspect, two very tragic events, all Hell broke out in France.Because the [re]actions of the French government were a de facto declaration of war to muslims, not only in France, but also international.Immediately after the news broke out about the beheading of the school teacher, the French government got bananas.The first bizarre action was the showing of the offending Charlie Hebdo Muhammad cartoons, hanging from French government buildings, violating article 1 of the French Constitution, stating equality and respect for everyone regardless descent, race or religion, as respect for all religions.Although the showing of the cartoons pretended to be in the name of”freedom ofopinion”, the French government knew full well, that many muslims, asIslamic countries, would consider it as a declaration of war.Again, a for muslims holy symbol as the Prophet Muhammed was shownon a disrespectful way, this time by a ”neutral” government.To add insult to injury, president Macron stated, that ”France will not giveup cartoons” in a homage to the beheaded school teacher.Do then the muslims in France not belong to France?No wonder some islamic countries started a boycott against French products.The third action of the French government was the more discriminatory:Minister of Internal Affairs Damartin announced the prohibition of a numberof islamic organisations, being ”enemies of the Republic”, withoutany given proof or connection with any terrorist attack, thus alienating the majority of peaceful muslims in France.An example of Damartin’s witch hunt is the CCIF, a collective that fights Islamophobia in France.The intention is also the deportation of illegal refugees, who received thelabel ”muslimextremists” without any proof of involvement with any terroristattack.In my view as the view of International Law, this is a ”collective punishment” This is no State policy anymore, but a ruthless witch hunt, which has nothing to do with democracy, but with a police State.Especially in those times, dangerous for France, the French government should connect, not polarize.
Astrid EssedAmsterdamThe Netherlands
Reacties uitgeschakeld voor The witch hunt of president Macron and his team on the French muslim community
le mercredi 1 mars 2006, à 09:26, Astrid Essed écrivait :
The Danish cartoons: Freedom of _expression or licence to insult
Since a couple of weeks, a deep crisis has been developed regarding the publication dd september 2005 by the Danish paper The Jylands Posten of twelve cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, among else depicting him as a terrorist.
A number of Arabic governments and the Iran government not only asked the Danish ambassador for an explanation, also a great number of Arabic supermarkets decided to remove Danish products, for example in Saudi-Arabia, Algeria, Bahrein, Jordan, Kuwait, Morrocco, Qatar, Yemen and Tunesia Recently, dd 6-2, the Iran government has decided to cut off all commercial relations with the Denmark. Also the governments of Saudi Arabia and Libia has closed their embassies in Denmark.
Apart from those government-reactions, a great number of muslims protested against those cartoons, by which in many cases European embassies, in particular Danish embassies, were being violated. Also the protests were expanded to the American military. Recently four people were killed by the often trigger happy Afghan police, when a group of people marched on a U.S. military base in Southern-Afghanistan, out of protests against the Danish cartoons
To give a thourough analysis of this crisis and the controversy between the freedom of _expression, which is the point of view of most European media, and the lack of respect, which is the point of view of most muslims in and outside Europe, it is of importance to give a short review of the events.
The first publication of the Danish cartoons:
Dd 30-9-2005, the first publication by the Danish paper The Jylands Posten took place. This caused a strong reaction, not only under moslims and moslim-organisations in Denmark, but also in Arabic diplomatic circles. They asked for a conversation with the Danish prime-minister Rasmussen, who refused. Seeing the recent crisis, mr Rasmussen has tried to calm down this by means of diplomacy, which failed. However, he refused to make further excuses about the cartoons, calling the publications of the cartoons ”freedom ofexpression”
The second publication of the Danish cartoons:
However, despite of the crisis, which was caused by the first publication and which has also led to serious threatments to the address of the cartoonists, the Jylands Posten decided to republish the cartoons after the Christmas-period
It needs no surprise at all, that this second publication again lead to a serious crisis, by which not only the Danish government was being asked for an explanation, but also Danish products were being boycotted, diplomatic and commercial relations were broken and a huge people’s protest in a great number of countries burst out. The main protests took place in Saudi-Arabia, the occupied Gaza-area, the occupied West-Bank, Yemen, Somalia, Indonesia, the by India ruled disputed Kashmir area, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Nigeria and Libanon.
Probably under the pressure of the worldwide protests, the Jylands Posten offered her excuses to the moslims dd 30-1, which was being accepted by the islamic community in Denmark
The publication of the cartoons in the European media:
Soon after the first reactions from the Arabic world on the second publication of the referred cartoons, a number of European media-papers, following the line of the Jylands Posten, were publishing also the Danish cartoons, claiming that they did this under the pretext of ”freedom of _expression” The cartoons were among else published in several Norwegian, Swedish, Dutch, French, Belgian, Italian and German papers
The editor of the French paper ”France Soir” not only was publishing them, but also added some own caricatural contributions to them. Therefore he was fired soon after publising the cartoons As reaction, out of socalled solidarity with his indeed unacceptable resignation and again, in the name of the ‘freedom of _expression”, a number of Belgian papers were also publishing the cartoons.
Of course it is evident, that the European newspapers have the right on publishing the cartoons as an information-source for the judgment of the public opinion. However, out of their point of view and regarding some editorial comments, they are of the opinion, that freedom of _expression can be ventilated totally, without any consideration for the religious rights of certain groups of people
Freedom ofexpression versus licence to insult:
Of course I consider freedom of _expression as one of the most fundamental rights of humanity, but that doesn’t imply, that there is no limitation to it. Without any limitation namely, anywone would be free to utter racism and anti-semitism and other fundamental violations of human rights, as being condemned by as well European legislative law as International Law In extremis it can lead to the opinion of a Dutch cartoonist J Collignon, who remarked in connection with the crisis round the cartoons, that it is no problem to publish Mein Kampf either
Also the socalled defenders of the freedom ofexpression forget, that their own legislative law has limited a total freedom of opinion, because the rights of different groups would be violated, as is being said above
In the first place, in European legislative Law, The ECHR [European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms], article 10 guarantees the freedom of _expression, there is an addition, that states that it is limited ”by everyone’s responsibility of the law”
In the Netherlands, where a great number of papers have published the cartoons, also article 7 of the Constitution guarantees the freedom of _expression, there is an addition, that states that it is limited ”by each responsibility of the law”
Article 1 of the Dutch Constitution states, that racism and discrimination is not permitted.
Insult of the religion of certain groups:
More specifically yet, article 137c of the Dutch criminal law, forbids insults of the religion of the several groups in society
The insulting character of the cartoons:
It is obvious, that the Danish cartoons, from which some are depicting the for muslims holy Prophet Mohammed as a terrorist, is violating the muslims in their most sacred feelings and is therefore a violation of their religious rights. Moreover the provocation lies in the fact, that it also implies a connection between the Islam and terrorism, which makes fundamentally no sense (being, like Christianity and Judaism, based on the principle of Love) and also a connection between muslims in general and terrorism, a serious European prejudice.
However I think, this is not only a question of legislative law, but responds also to the deeper principle of fundamental respect for other human beings.
By publishing those cartoons, the European papers not only has shown a fundamental lack of respect for the muslims outside Europe, but also for their moslims-co-citizens on their own country.
This sort of freedom of opinion bigotry is leading in extremis only to the further escalation of the growing tension between European autochtones and especially islamic allochtones, with the great risk of further radicalisation.
Reactions in the Arabic world:
Of course I am of the opinion, that the diplomatic reactions of the Arabic and Iranian government, not only regarding the boycot of the Danish poducts, but especially also against the Danish government, are extrapoportionnal, since the government of a country has no power over the edition-policy of a newspaper.
Also I condemn the reactions of violence in parts of the islamic world, which is directed against the foreign embassies.
However it is evident, that such an outburst of violence has more causes than the publication of the cartoons
Backgrounds of the violent outbursts:
Yet apart from the reaction on the publications of the Danish cartoons, it is obvious, that for such outbursts, more explanations must be seek
I am of the strong opinion, that those violent reactions, which take place in so many countries, are directly interconnected with the feelings of powerlessness and humiliations, which are being mainly caused by the European military support of the British-American occupation of Afghanistan and especially Iraq. This is also combined with the decennia-long European political attitude to the Middle-East crisis, which is de jure condemning the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian areas and the Israeli war-crimes and human rights violations, but de facto is maintaining the status quo, by not taking any political or economical measures to pressure on Israel to implement the UN-Security Resolution 242 dd 1967, to withdraw our of the occupied territories and also to dismantle the settlements, which are illegal according to International Law and break down the Wall, which has been condemned by the International Court of Justice dd 9-7-2004, because of cutting through occupied Palestinian area.
This, in combination with the since 11 september 2001 amounted anti-Islam hysteria in Europe, from which the publication of those cartoons are one of the utterings, is leading to those violent protests, which is only being worsened by the provocative attitude of a number of European papers, from which for example the Dutch Volkskrant [literary translared: People’s Paper] is one of the most extreme, by publishing the cartoons two times in a short period.
Denigrated remarks of de Volkskrant:
Not only ”De Volkskrant” was very bigot in her defense of the freedom of _expression by placing the cartoons twice, in an editionary comment ”Geen slappe knieeen” [”No weak knees”, by wich was meant no capitulation for ”religious fundamentalism”, which as so often in the European media is used in a wrong way] she also utttered very denigrating remarks considering the muslim protesters. So every protest was being ”directed” from ”the authorities”, by which they forgot, that it is highly unlikely, that so many protests in so many countries would be ”put in scene” Further they called the protests ”opgelopte lucht” [litery ”cooked air”, which means ”of no real meaning and irrational”], which shows a complete lack of respect for the intelligence and think-capacity of the protesters.
Further the Volkskrant also neglected a remark by a French muslimleader, who was comparing the cartoons with the anti-semite cartoons from the 30 years of the former century Their comment was, that the comparison was not just, because the systematic nazi-propaganda of that time is not to be connected with those cartoons
Anti-Islamhysteria:
Yet the Volkskrant is missing a very important point here. Although there the anti-Islamhysteria is happily not to be compared with the nazi-propaganda from the years 30 of the former century, yet there are comparisons. For example the Jews were being considered as untrustworthy [the same qualification is given to moslims nowaday in Europe], they would plan an ”international plot to dominate the world” [compare with the generalisation of all moslims with the ”international terrorism”] and they were out to ”destroy the German cultural society” [compare with the muslims, who would ”destruct” ”the democratical European society”]
In my opinion I am also supported by no-one less than the very respected Dutch-Jewish rabbi Soetendorp, who stated that there are a number of comparisons between the anti-semite propaganda in the 30 years and the present European anti-Islamhysteria.
Political signature of the Jylands Posten:
Considering the Jylands Posten, it is perhaps interesting to commemorate, that this paper was in the 20, 30 and 40ths of the former century, a fervent political supporter of the racist-facistic regimes of as well Hitler as Mussolini Although the past is not to be considered in this, it is being named by me, because nowadays this paper is a very right-wing paper also with ideological ties with the extreme right party in Denmark
Reaction of the AEL [Arab-European League]
The chairman of the Arab-European League, mr D Abou Jahjah, has recently decided, in reaction on the publication by the European media, also to publish a number of cartoons. The deeper meaning is not only to explore the limits of real freedom ofexpression, by placing certain cartoons, which are a taboo in the European ideological train of thought, but also confont the European defenders of the freedom of _expression, who don´t care about insulting the feelings of muslims, with cartoons, which are shocking to them.
Considering the fact, that the holocaust is such a taboo, he has placed already a cartoon, by which Hitler shares the bed with Anne Frank
Although I can understand the purpose of this and in reactions a possible double standard point of view can be read, I think it is unacceptable to make a cartoon, even for testing this principle, of a genocide like the holocaust.
In that respect also the comparison would have more meanful, when the AEL had published a rabbi, being a terrorist.
I know almost certainly, that that would not be considered als ´´´freedom ofexpression´´, but as anti-semitism.
My other objection however is, that it is better to protest against the publication of the cartoons, rather than to place possible shocking cartoons, but of course that is the responsibility of the AEL-Europe.
Conclusion
Overwiewing the insulting character of the publication of the cartoons and the fact, that the freedom ofexpression has its limits, when it comes to violating of the rights of groups of people, regardless whether they are cultural, national or religious, it would be wise, when the European media would not have pubish them, at least not out of the point of view of ´´defending of the freedom ofexpression´´
In the first place, there is a difference between freedom ofexpression and licence for insult In the second place, papers have not only their responsibility to bring news as objectively as]they can, but also a responsibility to society in respecting all citizens, also people, who have a different religion and descent Depicting intentionally cartoons, knowing it will hurt people in their deepest authentic feelings, whether religious or on another part of their identity, lacks the most elementar feeling of respect, which is also a part of the principles of democracy
By this arrogant attitude, only national and world-tensions will escalate, with as a consequence an amount of bitterness on the side of the powerless and already humiliated people in this world
It is time for Western media and a number of anti-religious or anti-Islam intellectualistic publicists, columnists, to show some respect.
Without that attitude, violent outbursts and more tensions will be the answer
I´´ll end to show my respect and appreciation for those European papers, which didn´t publish the cartoon in a senseless obsession with the ´´freedom ofexpression´´
In that respect many European newspapers could learn from the American papers, from which a very little part has published those cartoons
Reacties uitgeschakeld voor [2006]/Astrid Essed about the publication of the Muhammad cartoons by the Danish paper the Jylands Posten, republished by Charlie Hebdo and other European newspapers
It was one particular event that took place at De Balie (that was brought to my attention on Saturday) which began a closer look for me at the centre and made me question whether I wanted to speak there. I explain my position . I hope to return to #Amsterdam soon.
For those asking “Why cancel your appearance over one event”: 1. That “one event” was bad enough 2. That event inspired a closer look at the centre & what it represents 3. Only white people can play “free speech” & “debate all ideas” game. I am not white. This is not theoretical
Reacties uitgeschakeld voor Egyptian feminist Mona Eltahawy fights Islamophobia/Cancels her talk in the Islamophobic debating centre De Balie, Amsterdam
In 2011, a special edition of Charlie Hebdo entitled Sharia Hebdo featured a cartoon of the prophet Muhammad on the cover as “guest-editor”, saying: “100lashes if you don’t die of laughter!
DENIGRATING AND INSULTING CARTOON OF CHARLIE HEBDO/
SUPPORT FOR FRENCH BURQA BAN WITH AS
TEXT/”OUI AUPORT DE LA BURQA, A L’ENTERIEUR””
[YES/FOR WEARING THE BURQA/FROM INSIDE]
SEE BLUE HANDKERCHIEF
RACISTIST IMAGE OF WOMEN, WHO ARE ABDUCTED
BY BOKO HARAM/SEE THE FAT LIPS, THE
VAMPIRE TEETH AND STRANGE GRIMACES
THE WAY BLACK PEOPLE WERE DEPICTED IN
THE 19TH CENTURY, TIME OF SLAVERY AND
RACIST THEORIES OF SUPERIORITY
THIS INFERIOR CARICATURE OF JEWS IN THE NAZI
PROPAGANDA PAPER ”DER STURMER” HAS RESEMBLANCES
WITH THE IMAGE OF THE WOMEN [ABOVE], AS THE DEPICTION
OF THE BLACK FRENCH MINISTER OF JUSTICE AS A MONKEY/
THE SAME HATESPEECH, THE SAME THEORY OF SUPERIORITY
People attend a rally to protest against satirical cartoons of prophet Mohammad, near the Heart of Chechnya mosque in Grozny, Chechnya January 19, 2015. (Reuters / Eduard Korniyenko)
Charlie Hebdo, a somewhat obscure magazine, [1] is suddenly is an
international star.
At wednesday 7 january, two masked gunmen killed ten members
of the Charlie Hebdo editorial staff and two police officers, during
an editorial meeting. [2]
Soon international political reactions burst out, from over the whole
world. [3]
The Dutch King Willem Alexander showed ”very shocked”, as the Dutch
prime minister Rutte [4] and the other heads of State.
Leitmotiv was the criminal act and, in various terms ”the attack
against freedom of expression, a precious fundamental freedom which we must continue to defend.” [5]
One of the few reactions, which looked farther, was the Indonesian,
which expressed, except a concdemnation ” fear that Wednesday’s deadly shooting attack on the office of the French magazine, Charlie Hebdo, will harm Muslims around the world and hope the international community will be fair with this incident and not generalize it as part of Islam” [6]
Iran pointed out, that ” “making use of freedom of expression… to humiliate the monotheistic religions and their values and symbols is unacceptable.” [7]
And of course the Dutch extreme-right Europese political gangster,
PVV fuhrer G, Wilders [8], as other European racist scum, uttered
their hatespeech and war language against Islam and muslims. [9]
A ”Charlie Hausse” was created and millions in Europe
stood and shouted ”I am Charlie”
Cartoonists published more or less sordid cartoons [some
downright hatespeech] [10] and spontaneous ”I am Charlie”
demonstrations were held. [11]
This was only a prelude to the great Paris Charlie Hebdo March.
But there also were otherl sounds:
Morocco’s Foreign Minister Salahedinne Mezouar didn’t participate
with the Paris Charflie Hebdo March, because cartoons of the
Prophet Mohammed would be carried. [12]
The unity for Charlie Hebdo was not so broad as was
presented in de media:
An investigation of the Journal du Dimanche showed, that
four out of 10 French people think the magazine
Charlie Hebdo should not have published the Prophet
Mohammed cartoons because of the offense to muslims. [13]
A RIGHTFUL ”CHARLIE HAUSSE”?
OR IS THERE SOMETHING ROTTEN AT THE BOTTOM
OF ”CHARLIE”
Of course the killings of 12 people are never to be justified.
Understandable, thjat people want to show their grief and
solidarity.
But there is a big difference between showing your indignation
over a barbarous act and declaring solidarity with a magazine.
Because shouting ”Je suis Charlie” means identification
with the Charlie Hebd Magazine.
AND THAT’S THE POINT!
Because:
What is Charlie Hebdo and do they deserve solidarity?
. I hope to return to 
