JANUARY 7, 2015: FREE SPEECH AND MASS MURDER IN PARIS

CAN HOPE RISE OUT OF TRAGEDY?

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Last week on January 7th, a horrific crime took place in Paris at the headquarters of the satirical newspaper, Charlie Hebdo, in which two masked gunmen murdered 12 people because they disagreed with their political points of view. At World Future Fund through our Global Education Project about Religion, Philosophy and History we have been working to promote the freedom of speech, non-violence and religious tolerance since our foundation nearly two decades ago. We firmly condemn the criminals who took part in this murderous rampage and send out our firm sympathies and condolences to the victims and their families.

However, can hope emerge from tragedy? Hopefully the spotlight on these attacks will bring about more discussion about the freedom of speech. What cannot come out of these attacks however, is the hatred of Muslims.

On January 11th 2015, a few days after the attacks, 2 million gathered in Paris along with 40 world leaders in a rally of national unity to honor the victims of the crime. In all, 3.7 million people joined demonstrations nationwide, in what officials called the largest public rally in France since World War II. The phrase "Je suis Charlie" (French for "I am Charlie") came to be a common worldwide sign of solidarity against the attacks. Among the crowd was Dali Boubakeur, the rector of the Great Mosque of Paris, the president of the French Council of the Muslim Faith, and a number of other Muslims in the crowd who came out to show their support for the victims.

While we are troubled by the attacks that took place, we are also troubled by some of the rhetoric coming out in response to these murders. We have provided a variety of views on this matter below.


BRIEF STATEMENT OF PUBLICATIONS PRINCIPLES:  The World Future Fund serves as a source of documentary material, reading lists and internet links from different points of view that we believe have historical significance. The posting of the articles below is in no way whatsoever an endorsement of these viewpoints by the World Future Fund, unless explicitly stated by us. As our web site makes very clear, we are totally opposed to ideas such as racism, religious intolerance and Communism. However, in order to combat such evils, it is necessary to understand them by means of the study of key documentary material. For a more detailed statement of our publications standards click here.


SPEECHES FROM HEADS OF STATE

Fight against terrorism - Address to the nation by M. François Hollande, President of the Republic (Paris, 01-9-15)

Fight against terrorism - Freedom of expression - Joint statement issued by the European Union culture ministers on freedom of expression (Paris, 1-11-15)

Remarks by President Obama on the Terrorist Attack in Paris (The White House, 1-7-15)

PM Netanyahu's Remarks at the Great Synagogue of Paris (Israeli Prime Minister's Office, 1-11-15)

 

WORLD LEADERS AT ANTI-TERROR RALLY

50 World Leaders at Paris Anti-Terror Rally – HERE’S THE LIST (The Gateway Pundit, 1-11-15)

 

THREATS TO THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH

The biggest threat to French free speech isn’t terrorism. It’s the government. (Washington Post, 1-8-15, by Jonathan Turley)

According to journalist Jonathan Turley, the biggest threat to the freedom of speech is not from Islamic radicalists, but in fact from Western governments.

 

CHARLIE HEBDO AND WESTERN LIBERALISM

Charlie Hebdo and western liberalism (Aljazeera, 1-10-15)

Abdullah Al-Arian points out the hypocrisy of western nations that claim to uphold freedom, oppressing and waging war on third world countries.

 

THE ISSUE IS NOT IDEOLOGY ALONE

A Message From the Dispossessed (Truthdig, 1-11-15)

The issue here, according to Chris Hedges, is not an attack on Western freedoms by those who hold a radical ideology. The issue, is one of the global dispossessed lashing out in rage when they have nothing left to lose.


WORLD LEADERS DISCUSS RESTRICTING CERTAIN FREEDOMS IN THE NAME OF PROTECTING THEM

One troubling byproduct of the Charlie Hebdo attacks has been an increased discussion on the part of world leaders about cracking down on certain freedoms, in order to protect them.

Interior ministers from a range of nations gathered in Paris on January 11, 2015 to call for an essential cooperation from internet companies to tackle terrorism. The gathering was held just hours before the massive public rally in Paris against terrorism that was attended by dozens of world leaders. A joint statement issued by the ministers - representing 11 EU nations including France, Britain, Germany, Sweden, Poland as well as the European commissioner for migration and home affairs, and US Attorney General Eric Holder emphasized their "determination to fight together against terrorism". They said that it was essential for major internet providers to cooperate with governments closely to monitor and if necessary remove online content "that aims to incite hatred and terror." There was also a proposal to establish an EU-wide database of passenger information for travel inside Europe and for flights leaving or entering the 28-nation bloc.

Several civil liberties groups are afraid that such state pressure could erode citizens rights and freedom of expression on the internet, especially in the wake of the scandal over electronic snooping by the United States NSA.

UK prime minister wants backdoors into messaging apps or he’ll ban them (Arstechnica, 1-12-15)

Erosion of free speech? Cameron pledges to ban Snapchat and WhatsApp (RT, 1-12-15)

Obama will hold a 'global security summit' in Washington to fight the rise of Islamic extremism (Daily Mail, 1-11-15)

Internet and border monitoring needed to thwart further attacks (Yahoo, 1-11-15)

Support of internet firms against terror ‘essential’ (Alarabiya, 1-11-15)

The biggest threat to French free speech isn’t terrorism. It’s the government. (Washington Post, 1-8-15, by Jonathan Turley)

Police State France. New Anti-Terrorism Legislation, Threat to Civil Liberties (Global Research, 1-1-15)

Theresa May vows Tory government would introduce ‘snooper’s charter’ (The Guardian, 9-30-14)

 

WESTERN HYPOCRISY

Jon Stewart Mocks Leaders of Countries at Paris March Who Jail (and Flog) Journalists: Video (Alternet, 1-13-15)

Why Doesn’t Anyone Care About the Recent Boko Haram Massacre in Nigeria? (Truthdig, 1-13-15)

Hypocrites Shine on Paris Catwalk (Sputnik News, 1-12-15)

Charlie Hebdo and the hypocrisy of pencils (RedFlag, 1-11-15)

Charlie Hebdo and western liberalism (Aljazeera, 1-10-15)

Charlie Hebdo writers once spearheaded effort to ban an entire political party (Top Conservative News, 1/2015)



EVEN THOUGH ALL SERIOUS MUSLIMS CONDEMN CHARLIE HEBDO ATTACKS

ISLAMOPHOBIA IS STILL ON THE RISE

After the Charlie Hebdo attacks there has been an alarming rise in the amount of Islamophobia both in France and in the general media. Two Muslim places of worship and a restaurant affiliated with another mosque were attacked last Wednesday and Thursday. Three grenades were thrown at a Mosque in Le Mans, west Paris, and a bullet hole was found in one of the mosque's windows. Several prominent media personalities have also taken the opportunity to blame the entire religion of Islam for the atrocity. However, such actions ignore the fact that several Islamic scholars have spoken out against the attacks, along with the fact that several Muslims came out to join the rally and denounce the act of terror.

We do not believe that an entire religion should be held responsible for the evil actions of a few. We believe it is important to face evil with justice, not vengeance. Should we repay every atrocity with another atrocity? No, this would pave the road to disaster.

 

MUSLIM YOUTH SHOWS HEROISM IN THE FACE OF EVIL

Lassana Bathily, Muslim Employee At Kosher Market, Saved Several People During Paris Hostage Situation VIDEO (Huffington Post, 1-11-15)

 

MUSLIM CONDEMNATION OF CHARLIE HEBDO ATTACKS

Paris attacks condemned at German Islam conference (DW, 1-13-15)

Think Muslims Haven't Condemned The Charlie Hebdo Attack? Think Again. (Huffington Post, 1-12-15)

Hamas condemns Charlie Hebdo attack, doesn't mention kosher supermarket (Haaretz, 1-10-15)

45 Examples of Muslim Outrage About Charlie Hebdo Attack That Fox News Missed (Alternet, 1-9-15)

Muslims Around The World Condemn Charlie Hebdo Attack (Huffington Post, 1-7-15)

 

MUSLIM JOURNALIST POINTS OUT HYPOCRISY OVER FREE SPEECH DEBATE

As a Muslim, I'm Fed Up With the Hypocrisy of the Free Speech Fundamentalists (Huffington Post, 1-13-15)

 

ISLAMOPHOBIA ON THE RISE

Glenn Greenwald on How to Be a Terror "Expert": Ignore Facts, Blame Muslims, Trumpet U.S. Propaganda (Democracy Now, 1-13-15)

Fox News Guest Sorry for Making Up Facts About Islamic Rule in England (NYMag, 1-12-15)

Fox News Host Launches Genocidal Rant At Muslims, Gets Literally Everything Wrong (Addicting Info, 1-13-15)

Young French Muslims fear attack after Paris shootings (BBC, 1-10-15)


JUSTICE IN THE FACE OF EVIL

We have written a few reports related to the subject above. Vengeance is not an appropriate response to injustice. What is needed is courage, not a cycle of violence. Hatred towards Muslims will not bring about more liberty and peace in Europe. It will only lead to further problems down the road.

Courage in the Face of Evil (World Future Fund)

This report lists three examples of brave individuals who responded to racism and oppression, with compassion and courage.

Norway's Response to Terror VIDEO (World Future Fund)

A tragedy took place on July 22, 2011 when a political extremist of the radical right killed almost 100 Norwegians.

Yet out of this terrible evil came a response that should inspire the world. Norway's people and government did not respond with hate and panic.

They instead called for more freedom and tolerance.

A Tribute to Malala (World Future Fund)

The story of Malala is well known. A young girl goes to school, despite threats from the Taliban and gets shot. Her courage is an inspiration to us all.


MIDDLE EASTERN HISTORY

Lawrence in Arabia: War, Deceit, Imperial Folly and the Making of the Modern Middle East (Amazon: Book)

In order to understand what motivates terrorism, we need to look at the history of the Middle East since the 1916 Sykes-Picot agreement (1916) that lead to the double crossing of the Arabs by the British and French, and the establishment of the artificial boundaries of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and eventually Israel. This series of events allowed an ultra-conservative brand of Islam, Wahabbi Islam, to take over Saudi Arabia - along with Mecca - and export their own radical version of Islam around the globe.


AMERICA'S WARS ON TERROR

After the tragic events of 9/11, America has decided to fight an ideology (radical Islam), with tanks and bombs. The reality is that ideology is needed to fight ideology. Such wars are only creating more violence around the globe and are making the West less safe for peace, freedom and democracy.

Totalitarianism in America (World Future Fund Report)

War Against Syria (World Future Fund Report)

War Against Libya (World Future Fund Report)

The War in Iraq (World Future Fund Report)

Obama's Drone War (World Future Fund Report)

 

STATE CRACK DOWN ON CHILDREN

Insane New Policy Would Require Day Care Staff to Report Toddlers Who Are Terrorist Sympathizers (Alternet, 1-8-15)


ISRAEL AND NETANYAHU

Netanyahu under scathing fire over uninvited visit to Paris for rally (PressTV, 1-12-15)

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Newspaper Edits Female World Leaders Out of Charlie Hebdo March (Mediaite, 1-12-15)

Turkish President Erdogan blasts Netanyahu for 'daring' to attend Paris rally (Yahoo, 1-12-15)