On understanding, cartoons and sensitivity

There is a golden path between Islam and Europe

Shariel Birnboim|Published: 02.20.06 , 14:49

Nowadays, drawings of the prophet are considered a central taboo in Islam – despite the fact that during the Middle Ages there were even drawings of the prophet were a somewhat routine feature of Ottoman and Persian art.

When these old drawings were presented in the framework of a university lecture, Muslim students couldn't believe their eyes.

On the other hand, the Western norm that it is permissible to criticize religion and especially the historical figure of the Islamic prophet, who was a political and military leader, and in this framework never hesitated to slaughter an enemy Jewish tribe, the Koraish.

Mutual misunderstanding

Westerners saw the publication of the cartoons as the West's reaction to terrorism, especially in light of the fact that al-Qaeda supporters draw inspiration for their actions from the actions of the prophet and say, "terrorism is one of the central pillars of the prophecy."

Therefore, acts of the prophets are a sign for the ages.

Just like Europeans can't understand why the entire Muslim world is boiling over a few newspaper cartoons, and they are shocked at the Muslims' behavior, Muslims, too, tend to be similarly stunned at European norms.

In many places throughout the Muslim world, people ask, "Why do you think it is okay to insult the prophet and reject God, but denying the Holocaust and presenting the Protocols of the Elders of Zion as an authentic work is considered by the West to be uncultured?"

And so a European Islamic organization quickly published cartoons insulting the Holocaust as a reaction to the cartoons that insulted the prophet.

Muslim jealousy

This stems from an approach by European Muslims that Jews are the "apple of Europe's eye" – Europe, which presents itself as egalitarian but in actuality strikes out at Muslims and doesn't allow them to integrate into their societies.

From a Muslim point of view, the Jews are the ones who have accomplished in Europe that which the Muslims have failed to accomplish (money, political and cultural influence).

Therefore, in recent years down-and-out Muslims have taken their fury out on the Jews. This has been especially apparent in France.

Where to now?

All that said, what can we do now, in light of the latest crisis in Western-Islamic relations? This is no general clash between Muslim and Western civilizations, because both consist of countries and societies that have greater interests than "Muslim policies" (if there is such a thing).

At the most there is a clash of ideas and cultures. This clash could deepen in Europe, with a rise in power and level of organization of Muslim immigrants that will get stronger because of their higher birthrates.

Clearly, the solution to this problem is not to censure the Western press, nor should we demand the West toe the radical Islamist line emanating from Tehran and Gaza.

New systems needed

The answer will come by creating new systems of public understanding about the appropriate and inappropriate in the public sphere.

Thus, we can expect Western newspaper editors to refuse to publish cartoons that insult any religion, just as most refuse to publish anti-Semitic cartoons.

At the same time, media professionals in the Muslim world will demand, with government support, that anti-Semitic and anti-Western cartoons will no longer feature in Muslim media.

This, in light of the large number of such anti-Semitic publications emanating from the Muslim world, and a situation in which one can find the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, Mein Kampf, and stories about Jewish ritual slaughter at every book stand in Egpyt.

The role of European rabbis should be positively noted, headed by French Chief Rabbi Yosef Sitruk, who quickly denounced the anti-Islamic cartoons. Of course the Jewish people will come out ahead if Jews and Jewish organizations do not generate provocations of this type in the future.