CharlieHebdomania Plunges World Into Whirlpool Of Islamic Violence
The sale of seven million copies of the magazine Charlie Hebdo featuring a front page cartoon depicting an image purporting to be that of Muhammad has brought forth its first bloody response from the Islamic world – Niger – where reportedly three people have been killed and six churches attacked and looted…writes David Singer.
Riots and protests in Algeria, Somalia, Pakistan and Jordan have added fuel to the rapidly growing feeling of resentment and hostility that Charlie Hebdo has inflamed.
Niger’s President – Mahamadou Issoufou – was one of six African heads of state who attended the unity march in Paris last Sunday in the aftermath of the horrific massacres in the offices of Charlie Hebdo and a Kosher supermarket – that saw 17 people murdered in cold blood by terrorists identifying themselves with Islamic State and Al-Qaeda.
Niger, Algeria, Somalia, Pakistan and Jordan are all members of the 57 States comprising the Organisation of Islamic Co-Operation.
President Issoufou – reacting to the outbreak of the violence in Niger – angrily declared:
“Those who loot these places of worship, who desecrate them and kill their Christian compatriots… have understood nothing of Islam,”
“Understanding nothing of Islam” could however be equally applied to those seven million readers (with possibly still more to come) who eagerly snapped up the latest edition of Charlie Hebdo – a publication that normally sells 60000 copies – supposedly in support of the right of “freedom of expression” – as proclaimed by French President Francois Hollande:
“…France has principles and values, in particular freedom of expression.”
Hollande had apparently abandoned the moral high ground he initially took on January 7 – following the attack on Charlie Hebdo – when he gave this response:
“France is in shock – the shock of an attack, because it’s a terrorist attack, there’s no doubt about that – against a newspaper that had already been threatened on several occasions and had consequently been under protection. At such times, we must stand together as one, show that we are a united country and that we can react properly, with firmness, but always with concern for national unity. “
Shooting civilians in cold blood in their offices and in a supermarket needed to be condemned and swiftly ended. No State can possibly permit such conduct within its borders nor can any such conduct be justified on any grounds whatsoever – no matter who or what is the target.
But was cocking your nose an appropriate response to the sensitivities and feelings of 1.4 billion Moslems around the world – 4.7 million of whom were estimated in 2010 by the Pew Report to live in France and comprise 7.5% of France’s population – by publishing another depiction of Muhammad contrary to what many Moslems believe to be the precepts of Islam?
Hollande seems to be whistling even further into the wind when he proclaims:
“There are tensions abroad where people don’t understand our attachment to the freedom of speech. We’ve seen the protests, and I would say that in France all beliefs are respected.”
How can Hollande claim that France respects all beliefs when his own Prime Minister is photographed holding a copy of the front page of the latest Charlie Hebdo magazine leaving the weekly cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris?
There surely is a big difference in supporting the freedom of expression whilst at the same time disagreeing strenuously with the views those people are expressing.
Would the better response have been to leave those seven million copies on the newsstand shelves unsold and its contents condemned for fuelling racial hatred?
Jewish citizens of France certainly don’t believe Hollande and have been voting with their feet in increasing numbers – following more than 20 antisemitic incidents – some fatal – committed against French Jews in the last twelve months. 7000 Jews left France and emigrated to Israel during that period.
Those Jews still remaining will view the following words of French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve on 21 November 2014 last year with utter cynicism and disbelief after last week’s horror at the Kosher supermarket:
“Every time you feel the violence exercised against you, when you are afraid for your children, when you are worried about this rising violence, remind yourselves that the republic protects you and [you have] an interior minister who loves you and who is your friend,”
Hollande’s unity march – led by more than 40 international leaders locking arms in solidarity – should have concentrated solely on calling for the eradication of those responsible for the terrorist attacks – Islamic State and Al-Qaeda – rather than marching ahead of a sea of “Je suis Charlie” banners hoisted defiantly aloft behind them.
Collective international military action is undoubtedly needed to degrade and destroy these enemies of humankind engaging in unimaginable acts of violence all around the world and threatening its peace and security – including groups such Boko Haram, Jabhat Al-Nusra, Taliban, Hamas and Hezbollah.
The message should be clear and unyielding – no State will tolerate under any circumstances the deliberate targeting of its civilians for any reasons whatsoever.
Hollande’s march should have been just the first stage of a world unity march by all world leaders to the United Nations in New York – demanding the passing of a Resolution by the UN Security Council to take military action against Islamic State and Al Qaeda.
Until 193 world States identify and eradicate their common enemies – CharlieHebdomania will remain an incurable illness with frightening consequences.
David Singer is a Sydney Lawyer and Foundation Member of the International Analysts Network
It only takes a particular group (this time Muslims) to openly preach anti-Semitism in the fertile grounds of Catholic Europe for it to come alive as in a wildfire. Whether we like it or not, for Europe, anti-Semitism is always bubbling away under the surface. How could it not, with generation after generation being indoctrinated that Jews are guilty of deicide (killing God who came to earth in human form). As Yitzhak Shamir once said, it is as if they inherit their anti-Semitism from their “mother’s milk.”
While the Australian situation is nowhere near the situation confronting Jews in Europe, it is my view that the time has come for the CSG Security firm (manned by volunteers) that is assigned to ensure the safety and security of Jewish institutions should now be trained and authorised to carry firearms.
With Police accredited courses being run at various locations, it is absurd that these people walk around unarmed.
The courses are inexpensive and quick, after all they are not being trained to be military snipers.
You are right. Gil, the only thing is that Menahem Begin said that about the Poles.
Otto, sorry, it was Yitzhak Shamir.
Leon, for some reason I thought it was Begin, but definitely the comment was about the Poilishe mob(sters). I could have been wrong abt. Begin — see people that I am also humble !!!!
Yes, the march should have been specifically against Islamic terrorist groups and the individuals who support them – a firm and united declaration of war against them on an international basis. ‘Je Suis Charlie’ became somewhat sentimentalised, which is never a good thing.
You’re right, David, let it be taken to the United Nations for action, in a show of unity by all the international leaders who marched, disparate lot that they were. It just might force UN attention from Israel for five minutes.
Liat, most members of the UN belong to the following categories:non-constitutional monarchies, medieval tyrannical dictatorships, authoritarian, corrupt regimes, terrorist entities, hypocritical, double-standard and double-dealing states:
so what can be expected from the UN?
Just think how many hypocritical democratic societies are carrying on profit-making business with Iran of the Ayatollahs, and how many are clamouring for this.
Leon
Doesn’t matter who or what the 193 United Nations members are.
They are all subject to disappearing in the face of the Islamic State advance.
If that doesn’t mobilise them to action – then so be it. They will have no one to blame but themselves.
David,
Absolutely!
It does matter some what… The majority of the UN are in fact Muslim countries.
Friends, easy on ALL islamic countries as a homogenous pernicious block against the defenceless REST of the world.
AS WE ALL KNOW, the fights against jihadist/terrorist/extremists islam in a ,let’s say, concerted manner ,started in the 1980s after the first attack against the World Centre in NYC.
If careful, we would notice that quite a number of islamic states have joined in various forms Western countries ( non-islamic, of course ) in various campaigns and also multiple ways ( intelligence and even military ) numerous localise conflicts within the islamic world. May I mention that even in Afghanistan that feeble Northern Alliance was an entity – all muslims of various origins – which fought against the same Taliban the same American initially supported against that infamous Soviet invasion/control of Afghanistan.
I will not bore you with the US first and then final second attack on Iraq with VAST islamic support, all also under the banner of a certain ‘War n islamic terrorism”.
Pakistan joined in, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and even today’s Egypt is formally or not a part of it.
Howz about the notion that certain “duplicitous” ( seemingly ) actions by Arab states are meant to garner some kind of CONTROL over known terrors groups by providing financial support through which they can exercise some degree of leverage over the very activities of the said terrorist groups.
Therefore , the cohesive islamic STATE level – official – entente supportive of some world-wide islamic campaign determined to demolish OUR civilised world MAY NOT be what it seems…..Similarly, the vast majority of French muslims ( part of the approx. 5 million of them ) would have NO interest in recking a place which is far better endowed with everything they couldn’t possibly acquire/pret a porter ( readily available) in their original countries, all muslim ones. Whether dependent on State hand outs or just institutions of the local tradition, the same French muslims would not intend destroying a France which is an irreplaceable PROVIDER. Sure, they would enjoy some kind of duplicate sharia system within their strict perimeters. As such, ONLY a very few of them would be perceived as enemies and figures support that concept. A great many Frencjmulsims are pretty well integrated in the nonislamic French society, with Govt. Ministers ( indeed the Education minister ) and heads of various institutions, teachers etc.
Yet, the local, French, issues are quite complex and a better integration of islam into French society is a very hot matter being debated.Attention, we are talking – as they are – about integrating islam into what they call a “lay Republic ” and NOT fighting it !!!
In historic terms, islam is just now going through the pains and tribulations a Xtian Europe was going through sometime between mid 18th Century and mid 20th.
We are the collateral damage not so passive spectators/interventionists, rendering the “maturity” process of islam a helping hand.
While I agree that “Charlie Hebdo” was and still is not the most moderate critical voice and, indeed, not the smartest at keeping the openly declared enemies at bay, the “subsequent” extremist attacks in Africa in particular, are not necessarily the immediate result of a few cartoons. The war in Niger and half of Nigeria as well as in all other muslim or part muslim countries on behalf of extreme islam has started long before Charlie became even known to the respective jihadists. However, one pretext is as good as any other.
Hollands has been in a popularity pickle also long before the Charlie. With a popular support of…..15% before the murders and only up 5% after the events, he is by far the mosy unimpressive French president France has ten in many a decade.
His rhetoric is incredibly weak, his public reflexes even worse. During the historic march and especially inside the Paris Great Synagogue he revealed a mind and respective disposition devoid of any inspired reflexes. His rhetoric was at first one of obvious inability to address the actual crisis in firm terms. First he said that the attacks had “nothing to do with islam”, then the repeated ad nauseum the same slogans of the French Revolution and, what has stuck in the general discourse, the absurdity that France as a “laique” , lay society should accommodate …all religions and defend them.
As I said before, the high muslim percentage in France requires seemingly insurmountable methodology of comprehension and effective intervention.
Once again , David Singer is spot on.
Oh, but you jest, Mr Poddebsky! Hopefully the pointy ends will be laced with something a bit more toxic than cynicism???
There has been immediate concrete action: the French Armed Forces are hard at work; using the 7 million copies of “Charlie Hebdo,” they are fashioning millions of pointed paper darts with which they will bomb the jihadists.
President Obama has placed a large order for such darts, too.
Leon
Think the French and Americans will stop making pointed paper darts when they read the following:
“A copy of the “survivor issue” of Charlie Hebdo, depicting the Prophet Muhammad, is getting bids of more than £1,500 on an online auction site.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/30812528
This will really go down well with the world’s 1.4 billion Moslems.
Those who rushed to buy those seven million copies should hang their heads in shame.
Ive written before that we are a race of slow thinkers and slow do-ers. (And here I’m talking about we “civilized” humans, not the animals who believe in wars, gunning in cold blood, retribution or revenge). Whilst I’m abhorrent about how these animals behaved over that French weekend, I believe there is nothing “smart” about inflaming or enraging an already explosive “terrorist animal”. When are we going to learn? Why can’t we work out that, yes, we should have gathered together to walk and talk and work out a way to deal with these extremist terrorist animals – not further inflame them by shoving more “extremism ” in their already enraged psyches. Rage begets rage. War begets war. But lets not get carried away. The only thing these Islamic terrorists are looking for is war. We have to get them before they get us. Very simple. Thinking fast on their collective feet would have been more beneficial for those heads of countries. They are law makers who are supposed to be looking after us. Hopefully “fast and clever thinking” is on their collective agendas. Maybe next time,eh?
Excuse me Erica Edelman, these people are not animals and please don’t compare them or use the word to describe these sub-humans.
Animals do not kill for pleasure. Animals kill for food to protect their young.
Spot on Shirlee, Poor critters don’t want to be associated with these vile creatures.