NICE, France When the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo republished caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad in early September, it triggered a chain of events that included two stabbings, protests in Muslim nations, the boycott of French goods and criticism from allies. Tensions rose higher when one young Islamist extremist beheaded a teacher near Paris this month, and another slit the throats of two people and fatally stabbed another inside a church in the southern city of Nice this week.
But French officials have not only defended the right to republish the cartoons, some have gone further including regional leaders who announced that a booklet including those images would be handed out to high school students as a commitment to defend the values of the Republic.
In the tortured 14-year history of the cartoons in France, the response to the images there has undergone a profound transformation. Once denounced by the head of state for provoking and disrespecting Muslims, and later held at a cautious distance by other officials, the same drawings are today fully embraced across the political establishment often conflated with Frances commitment to freedom of expression.
The caricatures have put France at a dangerous impasse, widening its divide with Muslim nations and leaving many French Muslims feeling alienated. To Muslims outside France, and some inside, the cartoons are simply provocative and gratuitous insults leveled at their faith. One drawing depicts the Prophet Muhammad carrying a bomb in his turban.
The hardening of Frances defense of the images has also set it apart even from the United States and other Western democracies that, faced with increasingly diverse societies, have become more cautious about speech that could be considered offensive, especially to racial, ethnic, religious or other minorities. Many French regard those attitudes as a form of American political correctness that threatens French culture.
On Friday, a day after a 21-year-old Tunisian migrant killed three people at the main basilica in Nice, police announced they had arrested a second suspect. About 50 people gathered in front of the church to pay tribute to the dead. What started as a moment of solidarity was interrupted by a couple of local residents who blamed Islam for the attack to the protest of bystanders. A veiled woman called on people not to conflate Muslims with terrorists.
The mayor of Nice said the Constitution should be modified so that France could properly wage war against Islamist extremists. Frances hard-line interior minister, Grald Darmanin, set the tone by declaring, Were at war, against an enemy who is both inside and outside.
The martial language reflects an overall hardening of the French view of radical Islam. The fierce defense of the caricatures has put the French in a position with little room for maneuver, where any compromise could be seen as undercutting a core value Frances strict secularism, called lacit.
Pierre-Henri Tavoillot, a philosopher and expert on lacit at the Sorbonne University, said that the conflict over the caricatures has led France into a trap.
In fact, they have become symbols and that turns the situation into a conflict, he said. But its a conflict that in my opinion is inevitable: if French lacit gives up on this point, it will have to give up on all the others.
He added, If we abandon caricatures, for a French person, were abandoning freedom of expression, the possibility of criticizing religions.
In 2015, the attack on Charlie Hebdo and the killing of a dozen people including cartoonists and columnists led to mass mobilization in Paris under the banner of Je suis Charlie, or I am Charlie.
Representatives from Muslim countries like Lebanon, Algeria, Tunisia, Jordan and Qatar joined that march against terrorism and for freedom of speech. But all of these countries have in recent days criticized the republication of the caricatures, arguing that they offended Muslims.
The editors at Charlie Hebdo republished the same cartoons to mark the start of a long-awaited trial of alleged accomplices in the 2015 attack, saying they were affirming Frances democracy.
The republication was quickly followed by a high-profile speech by President Emmanuel Macron detailing his plans to combat Islamism, and the governments widespread crackdown on what it described as Islamist individuals and organizations moves that contributed to the change in perspective abroad.
The publication and the republication are not the same thing, said Anne Giudicelli, a French expert on the Arab world who has worked for the French foreign ministry. The republication by Charlie Hebdo is seen as an obstinate will to continue humiliating. Thats what is different from 2015. Now there is the sense that France has a problem with Islam whereas, in 2015, France was the victim of terrorists.
Angered by the republication, a Pakistani asylum-seeker stabbed two people outside the former offices of the magazine, and a refugee of Chechen descent beheaded a middle-school teacher who showed in class two Muhammad caricatures, including one depicting him naked on all fours.
Freedom of speech or the freedom to say blasphemous things about religion is considered a tenet of French democracy, which was established by eradicating the power of the monarchy and the Roman Catholic Church, and has steadily become a pillar of Frances secularism, or lacit.
Rooted in a law established in 1905 when France lacked a significant Muslim community French secularism separated church and state and was based on the idea that faith is a private matter and must therefore be restricted to the private sphere, Mr. Tavoillot, the philosopher, said.
Jean Baubrot, a leading historian of French secularism, said that the idea was to give precedence to the state. Modern France considers that it established itself against religion, he said.
Frances strict secularism has also been indirectly strengthened by the increasing secularization of French society. Only 8 percent of French people regularly practice their faith today, according to a 2016 report by the Paris-based Institut Montaigne.
But how lacit is lived and enforced has hardened in reaction to the rising number of Muslims in France, Mr. Baubrot said. Today about 10 percent of Frances population is Muslim, and they are much more religious than their Christian or Jewish counterparts. The report found that 31 percent of Muslims visit a mosque or prayer hall once a week.
French secularism holds dear the right to criticize all religions though not believers. The line is often difficult to draw, and has left many Muslims feeling personally insulted with the publication of caricatures of Muhammad.
Complicating matters is that France does curb some freedom of expression banning, for example, attacks on people for their religion or skin color, and forbidding Holocaust denial.
The teacher who was beheaded had used two caricatures of Muhammad from the pages of Charlie Hebdo in a class on freedom of expression, angering many Muslim students and parents. The government regarded his killing as an attack on the state since public schoolteachers have played a key role in teaching about secularism.
A few days after the killing, the leaders of Frances 13 regions announced that they would publish a booklet for high school students featuring the Muhammad caricatures.
The art of caricature is an old tradition that is part of our democracy, said Iannis Roder, a middle school history teacher and a member of the Council of the Wise, created by the government in 2018 to reinforce lacit in public schools.
He added that he faced increasing difficulties teaching freedom of expression and the right to caricature because of a greater penetration of religiosity among many students who call themselves Muslims.
But Mohammed Moussaoui, the president of the French Council of Muslim Faith, said that there should be limits to offensive satire when it comes to religious beliefs. Limiting the publication of cartoons of Muhammad avoids fueling extremism, he said.
I dont think this is the right way to explain freedom of expression to children, Mr. Moussaoui said of the caricatures in an interview with France Info. The duty of brotherhood imposes on all to renounce some rights.
In a subsequent statement, Mr. Moussaoui said that his suggestion to renounce some rights had been clumsy. But he added: If freedom of expression gives the right to be satirical or humorous, we can understand that cartoons putting a prophet who is fundamental to millions of believers in suggestive and degrading postures cannot fall within this right.
As the caricatures have acquired a powerful symbolic significance since the 2015 attacks, it has become politically difficult to raise questions about them.
Clmentine Autain, a far-left lawmaker from the party France Unbowed, said that the debate over terrorism and secularism is dominated by emotion and is no longer rational.
Some politicians are using lacit as a way to ostracize all Muslims, she said. My concern is that, by doing this, a number of Muslims are being sent back into the arms of radicals.
Antonella Francini contributed research from Paris.
Read this article:
Frances Hardening Defense of Cartoons of Muhammad Could Lead to a Trap - The New York Times
- 19 Shocking Examples Of How Political Correctness Is ... [Last Updated On: June 12th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 12th, 2016]
- Political Correctness / Cultural Marxism - Discover the ... [Last Updated On: June 12th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 12th, 2016]
- The origin and nature of political correctness (26/11/2015) [Last Updated On: June 16th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 16th, 2016]
- The Origins of Political Correctness - Accuracy In Academia [Last Updated On: June 16th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 16th, 2016]
- Political Correctness - Blogs - Jerusalem Post [Last Updated On: June 17th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2016]
- Political correctness - the awful truth [Last Updated On: June 17th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2016]
- 20 Outrageous Examples That Show How Political Correctness ... [Last Updated On: June 17th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2016]
- Political correctness - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: June 17th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2016]
- Political correctness Archives | Human Stupidity ... [Last Updated On: June 19th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 19th, 2016]
- Political correctness Archives | Human Stupidity ... [Last Updated On: June 26th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 26th, 2016]
- Political correctness - Simple English Wikipedia, the free ... [Last Updated On: June 29th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 29th, 2016]
- How to Be Politically Correct (with Pictures) - wikiHow [Last Updated On: July 1st, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 1st, 2016]
- Urban Dictionary: political correctness [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2016]
- Political Correctness = Language and Thought Control ... [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2016]
- Political Correctness = Language and Thought Control - The ... [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2016]
- Political correctness - Uncyclopedia - Wikia [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2016]
- political correctness - The American Prospect [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2016]
- Political correctness | The Economist [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2016]
- The Phony Debate About Political Correctness - ThinkProgress [Last Updated On: September 8th, 2016] [Originally Added On: September 8th, 2016]
- Political correctness - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: November 21st, 2016] [Originally Added On: November 21st, 2016]
- Political Correctness Watch [Last Updated On: December 2nd, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 2nd, 2016]
- Political correctness: how the right invented a phantom ... [Last Updated On: December 4th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 4th, 2016]
- Political Correctness Gone Mad - TV Tropes [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2016]
- The Origins of Political Correctness - academia.org [Last Updated On: January 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: January 13th, 2017]
- Letter: A guide to political correctness - Carroll County Times [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Sports: America's Great Escape from Political Correctness - American Spectator [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Letter: Political correctness has gone too far - The Herald-News [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Boy Scouts ruined by political correctness: Your Say - USA TODAY [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Spicer says 'political correctness' infringes on 'freedom of religion' - Washington Post [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Spicer Says Religious Liberty Is Getting 'Pushed Out' By Political Correctness - TPM [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Trump's right-wing political correctness makes us less safe - Daily Kos - Daily Kos [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Political correctness exists to build respect for the oppressed - Kenyon Collegian [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Fixing political correctness - The Stanford Daily [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Authoritarian political correctness - Dailyuw [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Letter: Political correctness is akin to golden rule - The Buffalo News - Buffalo News [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- We must take a wrecking ball to political correctness to achieve our true economic potential - City A.M. [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- Slamming 'political correctness,' Casper scraps recycling program ... - Casper Star-Tribune Online [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- Too PC? - Two Views on Political Correctness - Huffington Post [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- Political correctness is life and death on a hilarious It's Always Sunny - A.V. Club [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- To a Collegian columnist: Disregarding political correctness hinders social justice causes - Kenyon Collegian [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- Pro-Trump priest casts political correctness aside and creates quite ... - BizPac Review [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- Foregoing Political Correctness, The Senate Should Have Let Warren Speak - Daily Caller [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- Netflix Boycott Over 'Dear White People' Is Right-Wing Political Correctness in Action - Heat Street [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- Trump's Right-wing Political Correctness Makes Us Less Safe - Huffington Post [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2017]
- When Will They Purge Indian History Of Political Correctness And Teach Us As It Is? - Swarajya [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2017]
- Editorial: Brown puts political correctness above jobs - Daily Astorian [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2017]
- Slamming 'political correctness,' Casper scraps recycling program for electronics - Casper Star-Tribune Online [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2017]
- Letter: Political correctness has endangered our safety | INFORUM - INFORUM [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- Letter to the editor: Political correctness has influenced minds - Post Register [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- Political Correctness Is An Absolute Must | Time.com [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- Political Correctness Propagates Radical Liberalism and Undermines The Truth - Accuracy In Media (blog) [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2017]
- Words, Tweets and Stones in the "Political Correctness" Wars ... - EconoTimes [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2017]
- 'Political correctness' mostly used as epithet - Walton Tribune [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2017]
- PewDiePie: Alt-Right Nazi, Victim of Political Correctness, or Just an Idiot? - Reason (blog) [Last Updated On: February 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 18th, 2017]
- Political correctness weaponized in face of unpopular opinion - The Vermilion [Last Updated On: February 19th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 19th, 2017]
- Trevor Phillips: 'Political correctness ushered in the populist wave' - The Guardian [Last Updated On: February 19th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 19th, 2017]
- Ferguson Political Correctness - The Missourian [Last Updated On: February 19th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 19th, 2017]
- The folly of political correctness is exposed by one of its high priests ... - The Times (subscription) [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2017]
- Populist correctness: the new PC culture of Trump's America and Brexit Britain - The Guardian [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2017]
- Political correctness on a downward spiral - NCC Linked [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2017]
- Publishers Pen - Political Correctness and Lawlessness: A Rant - Up & Coming Weekly [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2017]
- Better Education Responsible for Political Correctness - NYU Washington Square News [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2017]
- Fed up with political correctness - The Rushville Republican [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2017]
- The Dark State of Political Correctness - American Spectator [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2017]
- Thursday February 23, 2017 - Israel Hayom [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2017]
- Jim Bailey column: Caught up in political correctness - The Herald Bulletin [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2017]
- Political correctness is to blame for terrorist payout, says Leo McKinstry - Express.co.uk [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2017]
- Jones: It's not political correctness, just common decency - Philly.com [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2017]
- Thursday's best TV: Born Too White; Has Political Correctness Gone ... - The Guardian [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2017]
- Is There Space For Political Correctness In Fashion? Gucci Says Maybe Not - Refinery29 [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2017]
- Op-ed: He's just saying what we're all thinking: How political correctness fails us in the age of Trump - The Eagle [Last Updated On: February 24th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 24th, 2017]
- The Bus Campaign That's Giving UK Political Correctness a Run for ... - CBN News [Last Updated On: February 24th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 24th, 2017]
- CPAC inadvertently shows logic behind political correctness - UT The Daily Texan [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2017]
- Despite Rumblings About Political Correctness, the Black Oscar Nominees This Year Deserve All the Accolades - Heat Street [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2017]
- The backlash to political correctness was inevitable - Shoreline Beacon [Last Updated On: February 26th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 26th, 2017]
- EDITORIAL: Political correctness ... and more absurdities | The ... - The Daily Progress [Last Updated On: February 26th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 26th, 2017]
- Political correctness puts end to much loved television characters ... - Starts at 60 [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2017]
- Political Correctness Hurt the Oscars - WSAU (blog) [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2017]
- Fox News' Tucker Carlson says 'Moonlight' only won Best Picture because of political correctness - ThinkProgress [Last Updated On: March 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 1st, 2017]
- Is political correctness killing US institutions? - Canada Free Press [Last Updated On: March 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 1st, 2017]