the crux of the matter

Submitted by Rebecca Moulds (United States), Jun 3, 2008 at 16:32

The last line of this column says it all: "Koranic criticism remains taboo."

Man must be allowed to criticise, it is the essence of the freedom of speech. Unfortunately, this freedom isn't alloted to one and all in the world, especially the Muslim world. Many would, and do, criticise the Judaic and Christian Scriptures; this does not normally lead to insane threats of execution, but merely healthy arguments.

When the film " The Last Temptation of Christ" was released in the UK, a Muslim acquaintance of mine said "Anyone who believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God is my enemy!" I reminded her that many people believed this---including myself---- and there erupted expletives from her lips, bashing all other religions except Islam. I said nothing until she was finished with her tirade, then told her that I am as free to follow my beliefs as she was hers.

Until Muslims accept that their religion and Koran can be openly criticised without punishment, then they will simply sit in the quagmire of Noel Coward's words: "I love criticism just so long as it's unqualified praise."

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