cartoons and the holocaust

Here is a letter which I wrote in response to the Guardian article linked below - I liked the arcticle generally but disliked the acceptance of this bizarre "outrage equivalence" between the religious offense and the Holocaust.

I also thought it is strange to suggest that religion has no role in denying freedom of speech!

One point I wanted to make but thought was too subtle (and arguable anyway) is that there is considerable irony in Iran's holocaust denial. If I wanted to critique western liberal democracies the fact that they can descend into barbarism as happened during the Nazi period is surely the basis for a devastating critique should one wish to make it. Denying these events underscores the irrationality of this whole sad affair

Anyway letter follows:

We certainly need the "mutual respect" which Anas Altikriti calls for at the end of his article (http://www.guardian.co.uk/cartoonprotests/story/0,,1706813,00.html). However, he does nothing to help this when he writes, for example, "Is it so difficult to digest that Islam considers insulting the prophets of God a profound violation of what is sacred, just as Europe rightly regards denial of the Nazi Holocaust?"

Yes, this is indeed difficult to digest as this is mixing chalk and cheese - "insulting the prophets of God" is a religious concept, whereas there is nothing "religious" about Holocaust denial, which rejects documented history for ideological, almost invariably anti-semitic, reasons.

Futher, Mr Altikriti claim that "Religion no more restricts freedom of speech than secularism promotes it" which ignores the fact that freedom of speech was not lightly achieved in western liberal democracies - this is not the same as freedom to spread hatred of "the other"

The issues around the cartoons are confused and complex enough without such nonsensical comparisons and claims which represent profound misunderstandings. Mutual respect must be predicated on understanding and there is a desperate need for dialogue at all levels of society to promote this against the efforts of the extremists who wish to divide us.