Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2015-01-15

The attacks in Paris, France has dominated headlines across the globe for more than a week.

Last Wednesday, two masked attackers stormed the Charlie Hebdo newspaper’s headquarter in Paris killing 12 people, including much of the weekly’s editorial staff and two police officers.

The incident was followed by three days of dramatic events in which an additional five people died and ended with the deaths of the three attackers.

Muslims in South Africa and across the world have expressed their views and sentiments on the incident and how it should be addressed.

“While there has been loss of lives, there always seem to be greater emphasis on the loss of life if it happens to be white, European comparative to other parts of the world,” Secretary General of The Jamiatul Ulama Moulana Ebrahim Bham told Radio Islam.

“There is reported loss of lives in Nigeria and other parts of the world but it doesn’t dominate world headlines compared to the situation in France.”

Moulana Bham said although Muslims are aware of the killing of the Charlie Hebdo journalists, the newspaper was also responsible for the publishing of caricature or cartoons which from the outset was regarded as problematic.

Moulana Bham indicated that as far as the killing of the Charlie Hebdo journalists are concerned, Jamiatul Ulama South Africa has always taken the stance that they do not condone extra-judicial operations.

“The reason for that is that once you start a particular cycle of going beyond the law to kill people than where does it end…? It is a very dangerous route, it’s a slippery slide towards anarchy which is more harmful to the Muslims in the long run,” said Moulana Bham.

Moulana Bham reiterates that while Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has been undermined by the caricatures and cartoons and Muslims do feel very hurt, the Prophet (PBUH) is unique and  cannot be comprehended.

“So where can anyone harm and injure the greatness and the virtue of our beloved Nabi (PBUH).”

Allah says in the Quran (Surah 16 Verse 97-99) “We are aware that you would be hurt by what they say. Glorify the praises of Almighty Allah, prostrate and worship Allah until you achieve conviction on the greatness of Allah, the truthfulness of Islam, the truthfulness of the Prophet of Allah (PBUH) and the truthfulness of his message.”

Moulana Bham emphasizes that these aspects should be kept in mind as Muslims have a unique opportunity to colour the community and broader society with the teachings, character and conduct of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Moulana Bham also highlighted the double stands of the so called “freedom of expression”

“There is no absolute freedom of expression. Our constitution, despite being a very liberal constitution (Section 16 Sub-section 2) makes mention that you cannot incite towards violence.”

“So there is no complete freedom of expression even in one of the most liberal constitutions in the world,” said Moulana Bham.

Moulana Bham said that freedom of expression only seems to exist for the Europeans or protagonists.

“It seems there is a campaign to desensitize the one community that still has a sense of sacredness…”

“We have also taken into account that when people say ‘they have attacked our values’… is this your values that you take pride in abusing what is regarded to be sacred by one and a half billion people. Is this your values that you like to hurt, pour water and pour scorn on someone who is regarded to be at the very core of our existence,” asked Moulana Bham.

(Twitter: @Faizie143)