Earlier this month, a school teacher in France was beheaded by an 18-year-old man for showing a class full of students blasphemous cartoons in the name of “freedom of expression”. After the incident, French President Emmanuel Macron had targeted Islam in his comments. Protesters filed the streets and demanded a boycott of French goods and religious leaders called for larger demonstrations on Friday. In Lahore, protesters also set France’s tricolour flag ablaze.
On Monday, Pakistan condemned the republication of the blasphemous caricatures in France and the Islamophobic remarks of French President Emmanuel Macron, with lodging strong protest with the French ambassador, followed by the passage of resolutions in both houses of the parliament.
Resolutions in the Senate and the National Assembly were passed unanimously, as the lawmakers from both sides of the divide called for recalling Pakistan’s ambassador in Paris in protest, saying that the French president had hurt the sentiments of billions of Muslims around the globe.
Muslims reacted strongly to the French president’s remarks and Hamza Ali Abbasi too took to social media to share his two cents on the matter. Known for his outspokenness, Hamza Ali Abbasi wrote, “It is your right to disagree and criticise but it is not your right to mock with the intent to deliberately insult and provoke. It’s immoral, unethical and uncivilised.”
It is ur right to disagree & criticise but IT IS NOT UR RIGHT TO MOCK WITH THE INTENT TO DELIBERATELY INSULT & PROVOKE, its immoral, unethical and uncivilised and the only way we Muslims can make the world understand that is solely by peace & dialogue not murder, war & hostility.
— Hamza Ali Abbasi (@iamhamzaabbasi) October 27, 2020
He commented further, adding that, “The only way we Muslims can make the world understand that is solely by peace and dialogue – not murder, war and hostility.” He then went on to question, “What if Muslims organise a contest of throwing cow meat on a Ram statue?” “Or who can slaughter the most pigs in a synagogue or who can spit on a cross with the most accuracy. It’s evil. The same applies in the case of making insulting cartoons of a man held sacred by more than 1.5 billion people,” he concluded his argument.
Wht if Muslims organize a contest of throwing cow meat on a Ram statue? Or who can slaughter the most pigs in a synagogue or who can spit on a cross with the most accuracy. Its evil. Same applies in the case of making insulting cartoons of a man held sacred by more than 1.5BN PPL
— Hamza Ali Abbasi (@iamhamzaabbasi) October 27, 2020
Netizens were quick to react to his tweets with most of them in agreement with what the Alif actor had to say. “Sir, we are a humble and peaceful group of religion. We cannot make ourselves equal to those scumbags. We are best of the people following best of the religions. We should raise the voice via appropriate forums, but extremism… It’s not in the bucket list,” one user said.
Sir, we are a humble and peaceful group of religion. We cannot make ourselves equal to those scumbags. We are best of the people following best of the religions. We should raise the voice via appropriate forums, but extremism… It's not in the bucket list
— Muhammad Usman (@usman_9141) October 27, 2020
“We ridicule others’ religion, they payback and ridicule ours. All these practices are completely against Islam and reflects SICK mentality. P.S. We Muslims are now supposed to be more responsible than ever,” another user penned.
We ridicule others' religion, they payback and ridicule ours. All these practices are completely against Islam and reflects SICK mentality.
P.S. We Muslims are now supposed to be more responsible than ever.— Samra Tariq (@isamratariq) October 27, 2020
There were some who commented on the ethics of the ongoing situation.
“We can surely debate the ethics, but its certainly not illegal. Whats illegal is decapitating another human being, an issue on which you have been completely silent! Free speech comes with a right to offend.”
We can surely debate the ethics, but its certainly not illegal. Whats illegal is decapitating another human being, an issue on which you have been completely silent! Free speech comes with a right to offend.
— Muhammad (@m_aadil) October 27, 2020
http://thebrownidentity.com/2020/10/26/this-is-what-shaan-shahid-feels-about-the-pti-government/
Many also took to quoting verses of the Quran and what it has to say about murder.
Some also questioned how many behave towards the Ahmadi sect and why no one speaks up when injustice is done onto them. “Yet it is ok to have such behavior towards Ahmadis. Why doesn’t anyone speak up then? Let’s not forget, do we ever see such war and hatred in return from the Ahmadis when they are mocked?”
Yet it is ok to have such behavior towards Ahmadis ?. Why doesn't anyone speak up then? Let's not forget, do we ever see such war and hatred in return from the Ahmadis when they are mocked?
— Sahar Ahmad (@saharahmad13) October 27, 2020
Meanwhile, some netizens put forth some morbid responses, stating that peace and dialogue is no longer sufficient. “Wrong Mr Abbasi… It’s matter of dignity of Our Holy Prophet Muhammad … We have tried every thing with peace and dialogues.. But they are able to understand with peace and dialogues.. Now only option left Is to cut them in pieces.”
Wrong Mr Abbasi… It's matter of dignity of Our Holy Prophet Muhammad … We have tried every thing with peace and dialogues.. But they are able to understand with peace and dialogues.. Now only option left Is to cutt them in pieces…….
— Waqas Warsi (@WaqasWarsi10) October 27, 2020
What are your thoughts on this ongoing matter?
