Upholding Free Speech as a Right and Duty

September 24, 2010

When the United States became its own country over 234 years ago, one of its founding principles was the free marketplace of ideas. The founders believed that moral and intellectual persuasion, firmly rooted in individual liberty, would determine the fate of ideas in our society, rather than the whims of rulers and tyrants. This included both secular and religious ideas for people of all intellectual orientations.

This is not to say that the free marketplace of ideas would always be civil or without its own perils. Part of the price of having such liberties is that there will always be individuals espousing unpopular and, at times, extremist and hateful views. With this gift of free speech, also comes a civic and social responsibility: to uphold the pluralism that sustains the marketplace of ideas and to constantly overcome "bad ideas" by providing better ones.

The recent spike in anti-Muslim bigotry -- which has even included threats of violence -- has inserted "bad ideas" into the marketplace of ideas. Some politicians and extreme voices have questioned whether or not Islam is fundamentally compatible with democratic values, by focusing on the fringe views of a tiny minority of extremists who also seek to shut down free speech through their own hate speech and threats of violence. As both Americans and Muslims, we fundamentally reject the mutually-reinforcing hate rhetoric from extremists in both camps and seek to uphold the civic, social and religious pluralism that sustains our liberties, including the right to free speech.

Therefore we support the following statement issued yesterday by American and Canadian Muslims in defense of free speech, which we believe is not only a civic right, but a religious duty to be upheld:

A DEFENSE OF FREE SPEECH BY AMERICAN AND CANADIAN MUSLIMS

We, the undersigned, unconditionally condemn any intimidation or threats of violence directed against any individual or group exercising the rights of freedom of religion and speech; even when that speech may be perceived as hurtful or reprehensible.

We are concerned and saddened by the recent wave of vitriolic anti-Muslim and anti-Islamic sentiment that is being expressed across our nation.

We are even more concerned and saddened by threats that have been made against individual writers, cartoonists, and others by a minority of Muslims. We see these as a greater offense against Islam than any cartoon, Qur’an burning, or other speech could ever be deemed.

We affirm the right of free speech for Molly Norris, Matt Stone, Trey Parker, and all others including ourselves.

As Muslims, we must set an example of justice, patience, tolerance, respect, and forgiveness.

The Quran enjoins Muslims to:

· bear witness to Islam through our good example (2:143);

· restrain anger and pardon people (3:133-134 and 24:22);

·         remain patient in adversity (3186);

·         stand firmly for justice (4:135);

·         not let the hatred of others swerve us from justice (5:8);

·         respect the sanctity of life (5:32);

·         turn away from those who mock Islam (6:68 and 28:55);

·         hold to forgiveness, command what is right, and turn away from the ignorant (7:199);

·         restrain ourselves from rash responses (16:125-128);

·         pass by worthless talk with dignity (25:72); and