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Shirin Ebadi & Akbar Ganji

Walk out to protest free speech award to Mohammad cartoonist

Fred: Kurt Westergaard, the Danish cartoonist most known for his Mohammad cartoons was awarded the German Media Freedom Prize [News]. The 2007 honoree of the same award, journalist Akbar Ganji and the lone Iranian Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi were to attend the ceremony. In protesting the awarding of the prize to Kurt Westergaard, both Iranians walked out. Sabine Sasse, project manager of the award event told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: “Kurt Westergaard is a symbol for press freedom and freedom of opinion because he stands for what he is doing -- and it's not right that some people want to kill him... Death threats are not our culture. So we fight for these rights. In a good democracy, it must be possible to have different opinions and discuss things." >>>

09-Oct-2010
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Sargord Pirouz

So let me get this straight,

by Sargord Pirouz on

So let me get this straight, Rea. We're to reward hate if that hate attracts a capital threat? Is that how the logic goes?

And the holocaust, these same folks that are rewarding hate make it a crime to even publish research that has no basis in hate?

You don't see the folly? The double standard?

You would sit in a room and watch hate be rewarded? Only because of the response it generated?

So yeah, scream Fire! in a congested movie theater. Say you did it as an expression of freedom of speech. Meanwhile, you've caused a violent panic to where there was no need. That's analogous to the dissemination of hate, brother.


asadabad

what a joke

by asadabad on

"In a good democracy, it must be possible to have different opinions and discuss things."

Tell that to the German citizens languishing in jails over their Holocaust ideas!  Germany persecutes its own citizens for trying to study history. 

Ebadi/Ganji were right in exposing German hypocrisy.  Even secular people can see that the cartoons were stupid and tasteless.  


payam s

Prophet you sound like Fox news

by payam s on

You are a quintessential product of a racist education and a colonial mindset. "if they don't like it here they can pack up and leave." Have you read anything history and political economy has to offer? They are not here cause white society is great, they are here for the same reason most immigrants are here: better economic conditions, and this is provided through exploitation of the homelands of these same immigrants. You can take what I said about muslims and apply it to the African Diaspora, the Latino community, the Native americans and the rest of the minority groups that have been enslaved, criminalized and oppressed. 

And how is this hateful cartoon an "open exchange of ideas". You are butchering terms and concepts like no other. If racist white folks are entitled to freely express their hate toward the oppressed (though you claim it is for "open exchange of ideas") then the IRI is justified in freely expressing hate and propaganda about the dissidents, religious and ethnic minorities and political prisoners. They do it because they have the power to do so. Not because they are engaging in free speech. I'm not sure if you can comprehend this point.

And no its not that whites don't get to have free speech, but that they are in no position to play victim when they are the ones either racializing and exploiting the whole planet or are indirectly benefiting from it. Just as the Mullahs in power have no right to play victim when people take to the streets. Your logic (or lack thereof) is inconsistent, and it is due to your ignorance and racism.

And it's not just Islam that is trying to expand, please if you are able, read the history of christianity. It is way more savage. Islam is growing in the metropolitan centers around the world, specially among the urban poor, this is because the oppressed blacks, browns and whites identify with Islam through their common condition of oppression. That is why so many African Americans and Latinos are converting to Islam in the US. So it is racist idiots and bigots that give Islam a boost, not only their desire to expand. I'm not a muslim (although your racist imagination desires me to be a "typical muslim"), but I like this growth of Islam, since it is the consequence of and a response to the same mindset you prescribe to: hate and bigotry, which only creates its own contradiction.

And your point regarding infidels, well its not ALL muslims but SOME muslims. Again, similar to your previous comments on this website you homogenize an entire people and judge them based on your personal encounter with individuals. This characteristic along with your ignorance is the only consistency you have. Stop hating muslims and regurgitating FOX, perhaps its about time you began educating yourself.


Rea

Sargord P.

by Rea on

Speaking for myself, I wouldn't go to any award ceremony for any cartoonist mocking any religion.

But I would go to a ceremony for a cartoonist whose life has been threatened because of a drawing. Whatever the religion.


Rea

Non-comparison

by Rea on

People compare the extermination of few mil defenseless people in gas chambers to the death of the +60 year-old warrior who, btw, died of illness.

As for S. Ebadi, have a lot of respect for her. Not this time, though.


Mehrban

The prize is symbolic

by Mehrban on

It went to Westergaard to say that they (Europeans,Germans) are not intimidated by death threats and emotional blackmail.  That they do not want to censor their journalists based on political correctness or over zealous religiousity.  I agree with Comrad that the departure may have been a purely instinctual one.  But it goes to show how lightly Mr. Ganji and Ms. Ebadi have contemplated the issues of freedom of speech.  They need to go back to school on this one it is not as light as they hope for.  If you want to water down the ideas of freedom at every turn that does not suit you, you end up with IRR.  I think their walking out in this ceremony was counter productive to the cause of freedom in Iran.   Freedom of speech is not negotiable.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLKk00OYKhU

Did you see much ado about this? 

 


Midwesty

So Raoul...

by Midwesty on

Give yourself a favor and avoid us. But wait, you can't, you have a itch that doesn't allow you!


Midwesty

Awarding a racist...

by Midwesty on

is anything but a sign of free speech. There is no absolute free speech in Europe anyway where many EU countries have adopted numerous laws to punish antisemitism and have jailed numerous authors for the crime of denying holocaust.

This is not a matter of free speech this is a clear double standard that EU has adopted and is enforcing.

I salute Ms. Ebadi and Mr.Ganji if by this they are protesting against EU's selective "Freedom of Speech Award".

What a giant load of bull! 


Roozbeh_Gilani

"It is true that liberty is precious;

by Roozbeh_Gilani on

  so precious that it must be carefully rationed. "

"Personal business must yield to collective interest."


Veiled Prophet of Khorasan

Payam

by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on

Free speech is meant to enable the weak, the oppressed and the subjects of a state to speak out; not the other way around, to be used by the dominant racist/islamophobic/white/Eurocentric side of power.

This is *free* speech. Freedom is not the exclusive property of non White; non Western; Muslims! You are wrong about the purpose of free speech. It is there to promote open exchange of ideas. Not the Islamist "oppressed" agenda. Sorry dude you missed that.

Freedom belongs to everyone and the white Westerners as well.

It is the Muslims who are discriminated against in Europe and North America who are entitled to free speech, not the racist Anglo-European society.

This is one of the most ignorant and arrogant statements. It is also racist against White Anglos. So the Whites don't get to have free speech right? Just Muslims. Typical Muslim arrogance and self absorption. Demanding rights for themselves but not others. Calling others racist while using a racist statement doing so! You think it is alright to call whites names but not Muslims.

It is the Islamist "Muslim good" but "Western bad" argument. If Western whites are so bad why do Muslims come here. I have been treated worse by Muslims than anyone else. Specially when they discover I am an Iranian who left Islam. How about this: If Muslims don't like it here they can pack up and go!

The discrimination Muslims face is all self created. By trying to push their religion they invite it upon themselves. That along with their ideas of Najis and Infidel and so on disrespecting the other people.


Raoul1955

Speaking about 'hate'

by Raoul1955 on

Those who wish to avoid hateful issues, speeches, and hateful ACTS, should avoid islam and islamic issues, sermons, and islamic people.


payam s

This isn't free speech!

by payam s on

Free speech is meant to enable the weak, the oppressed and the subjects of a state to speak out; not the other way around, to be used by the dominant racist/islamophobic/white/Eurocentric side of power. It is the Muslims who are discriminated against in Europe and North America who are entitled to free speech, not the racist Anglo-European society. When they engage in such acts it derives its essence from their everyday racism and hate not desire for free speech. This is a mockery of the concept of free speech. Only whitewashed liberal idiots buy into this BS.


Sargord Pirouz

Speaking for myself, if I

by Sargord Pirouz on

Speaking for myself, if I were invited to an award for a cartoonist mocking Judaism, I'd no-show, too.

It's a question of hate, not freedom.

And no, screaming Fire! in a crammed movie theater is not a First Amendment right! 


AMIR1973

Moosir,

by AMIR1973 on

It's like asking Jews to remain seated in a holocaust denying (or some other jew bashing) conference in the spirit of"free speech and opinion".

Actually, a number of Ultra-orthodox Jews attended the IRI's holocaust denial conference in Tehran back in 2005. As far as I know, none of them walked out during the speech of rabid Jew-basher and former KKK Grand Wizard David Duke. 


Fatollah

MOOSIRvaPIAZ

by Fatollah on

bad comparison, sorry, Kurt W, didn't kill people like the Nazi's or who's blood in his hands Ahmadinejad (a holocaust denier) or Kurt W.  ?


comrade

Salman Rushdie(partII)

by comrade on

What was wrong with drawing a cartoon of the prophet? 

Was it the act of drawing or Was it the depiction of the explosive turban?

As for Shirin and Akbar, in my opinion, they acted instinctively, which is void of intellectual property. I wish they had chosen to give a short preach-for-dummies acceptance speech to the liberal European audience instead. 

 

Never increase, beyond what is necessary, the number of entities required to explain anything.

 


Darius Kadivar

Imagine ...

by Darius Kadivar on


MOOSIRvaPIAZ

I could understand why they walked out

by MOOSIRvaPIAZ on

They are muslims arent they? It's like asking Jews to remain seated in a holocaust denying (or some other jew bashing) conference in the spirit of"free speech and opinion".

 

 


No Fear

They did the " Right " thing.

by No Fear on

There is no point in defending the rights of a cartonists with a very bad taste knowing that subsequently you will lose your privileges to defend the rights of political prisoners in Iran.

If they supported the rights of the cartonist, they could have be thrown in the jail.

An intellectual should constantly be pushing the limit for himself, his people and the government. But if he pushes too far, he would deny himself and us for a gradual step forward towards reform.

For example, if you are in favour of " nudity" , it makes no sense if you come out naked on the street and defend your right. You be thrown in the jail. A revolutionary intellectual knows nothing better. They believe this is the correct form of activism to go head to head against the system. They look at jail time as a badge of honor that gives them credibility. Frankly, they even consider being " anti- government" or " anti- establishment"  as prerequisite to become an intellectual !!

But non revolutionary activism dictates that you should approach your goals gradually by removing your cover piece by pieces over an extended period of time. ( rightwing activism ). This way, you won't be thrown in Jail, while you are pushing the boundaries and the limits, intelligently.

PS: Ebadi or Ganji are not rightwing activists, but they are smart enough to understand how far you can push the limits.

 


Fatollah

Kurt Westergaard

by Fatollah on

is a great guy, he has my sympathy in every aspect.


David ET

Thank You ganji and Ebadi

by David ET on

For proving us that your concept of Freedom is SELF-SERVING:

 LEARN SOMETHING FROM THIS :

 “I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”      ........................... VOLATIR

Chickens!