Je Suis Charlie Backlash: France Hate Speech Arrests Highlight Double Standard, Critics Say

[Fred Sanders]

http://m.ibtimes.com/je-suis-charlie-backlash-france-hate-speech-arrests-highlight-double-standard-critics-1785188


Dieudonné M'Bala M'Bala, a French comedian who has been accused of being anti-Semitic, was arrested for supporting terrorism when, after the free speech rally in Paris, he wrote that he felt not like Charlie but more like "Charlie Coulibaly," using the last name of the kosher market killer.

(Reuters photo)


"The world is still reeling from the terrorist attacks that claimed 17 lives in Paris last week, and millions -- including world leaders locked arm in arm -- took to the streets of the French capital Sunday in a supposed show of solidarity. But uncritical support for #JeSuisCharlie, the meme that has circulated in social media and throughout the world in support of the Charlie Hebdo staffers murdered by French, al Qaeda-backed gunmen, is getting some serious pushback in the media and among academics.

Cries of hypocrisy and accusations of double standards are greeting both the examination of those world leaders’ records with respect to their treatment of journalists as well as news on Wednesday that France detained comedian Dieudonné M’Bala M’Bala for a Facebook comment he made in apparent solidarity with the Paris gunman Amedy Coulibaly. The post was deleted, but not before being seen by authorities. “[A]s far as I'm concerned, I'm feeling like Charlie Coulibaly," Dieudonné wrote.

Dieudonné is not alone. Fifty-four cases involving threats to carry out terrorist acts or statements in support of terrorism have been reopened by French police, the BBC reported on Thursday, and Justice Minister Christiane Taubira said hate speech has to be fought with the "utmost vigor," urging prosecutors to act quickly against those who condone terrorism or carry out racist or anti-Semitic acts. Prime Minister Manuel Valls added that freedom of speech should not be confused with anti-Semitism, racism and Holocaust denial."

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[Skidmore]

1. I have the same response to this event as I have to others like it.

The energy put into orgies of handwringing and wallowing in death and angst would be better used to find a way to live on the planet together because this sure as heck isn't a way to overcome differences and to communicate constructively.

[jberryhill]

5. Yep

[JonLP24]

2. The article is remarkably fair, especially towards the end

"The right to freedom of expression are differently conceived in Europe and America," Saba Mahmood, associate professor of Anthropology at U.C. Berkeley and author of the book "Is Critique Secular? Blasphemy, Injury, and Free Speech," told International Business Times. “Free speech is differently regulated under the First Amendment in the U.S., than Europe where the right to free speech has two clauses. One says that everyone is free to express whatever they wish, and a second that allows the state to restrict speech if it poses a threat to public and political order."

“The issue is being framed as a standoff between religious taboos and freedom of expression,” Mahmood added. “And of course we want to err on the side of freedom of expression. But neither is the issue."

It seems there is a lack of awareness that unlike the United States, most other countries including France has several exceptions written into the laws but rather than viewing it as the free speech cause of the century the last paragraph describes my view of this whole thing

“The issue,” said Mahmood, “is how is Europe going to deal with a Muslim minority that’s not just going to line up and accept all French values? There will be disagreement. It’s inevitable. Is there a way to accommodate this disagreement, or is one side going to tell their side, ‘Too bad, you have to adjust.’ Is the aim to just rule over minorities or to create conditions that are conducive for both majority and minority?”

http://www.ibtimes.com/je-suis-charlie-backlash-france-hate-speech-arrests-highlight-double-standard-critics-1785188

The last thing which should be done in response is contribute to the rise of the identity politics.

[Fred Sanders]

3. The solution is what? As Hebdo said in their widely ignored editorial, the solution is secularism.

Why not "Jus Suis Dieudonné M'Bala M'Bala"? Isn' it the same protection of free speech to say so?

The hypocrisy is so bright the American media and government, not to mention the Saudis and Quatar, have to wear shades.

[JonLP24]

4. The question who does secularism privilege

such as do they continue to play favorites with Roman Catholics & discriminate against minorities which Muslims & Jewish citizens are marginalized despite neutral laws as well as the Cleveland Indian caricature type of cartoons which was used to support their beliefs which the article you posted mentions a claim where their offensive material has put French Muslims between a rock and a hard place in terms of freedom of expression.

[Laughing Mirror]

6. Qui sème le vent récolte la tempête

When you blow shit up it explodes.