Sadly, four Anglican bishops in the Middle East have joined to
endorse international blasphemy laws.
“In view of the current inflamed situation in several countries
in response to the production of a film in the USA which evidently
intends to offend our Muslim brothers and sisters by insulting the
Prophet Mohammed, and in view of the fact that in recent years
similar offensive incidents have occurred in some European
countries which evoked massive and violent responses worldwide, we
hereby suggest that an international declaration be negotiated that
outlaws the intentional and deliberate insulting or defamation of
persons (such as prophets), symbols, texts and constructs of belief
deemed holy by people of faith,” they wrote the United Nations
general secretary.
The four bishops serve in or are responsible for churches in
Egypt, Cyprus and the Gulf, North Africa, and the Horn of
Africa.
The bishops’ letter, as noted by “Anglican
Ink,” somewhat echoes the 2011 United Nations’ resolution
urging nations to “combat” negative speech and attitude about
religious groups. It dropped a specific reference to “defamation”
long pushed by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) of 56
majority Muslim countries. Like the UN Declaration of Human Rights,
the resolution affirms freedom of expression. But clearly its
emphasis is on squelching criticism.
Likewise the Anglican bishops insisted their proposed
declaration would not contradict freedom of expression. But their
suggestion is to “outlaw” defamation of religion, which certainly
does assail free speech. They understandably want to preempt
violence, but by restraining “malicious opinions.” The bishops
concluded that “as people living here in the Middle East, we see
that the way ahead for peaceful coexistence and religious harmony
is through mutual respect and love.”
Who can fault these poor bishops, responsible for tiny, besieged
flocks, saying what they must for continued survival? Unlike the
U.S. Embassy in Cairo trying to appease the mob, Christian
communities in the Middle East have no earthly power to defend
them. Amid ongoing Christian exodus from the region, they are
trying to preserve what remains. God bless them. But Christians
elsewhere, with other people of conscience, must defend truly free
expression, even when Islamist killers threaten. Otherwise, today’s
free societies may slide into what these bishops must now routinely
experience.
Christians in sub-Saharan Africa, who unlike declining Mideast
churches are surging in numbers, are typically more robust in
defending religious freedom. Nigeria’s Catholic bishops recently
denounced the Islamist terror group Boko Haram and demanded their
national government act aggressively to defend vulnerable
Christians in the country’s mostly Islamic north.
“The patience of Christians, especially in the north, has been
tried and tested for too long now through the unprovoked and
senseless killing of Christians by the dreaded Islamic sect,” the
bishops announced. “We ask that the reckless attacks on them and
other innocent Nigerians be brought to a halt through the proper
use of intelligence and expertise available of government and
security agencies both within and beyond Nigeria.”
Nigeria’s Catholic bishops cited their national Constitution’s
protection of religious freedom. But they regretted that “some
Nigerians misunderstand their right to religion as right to
persecute other Nigerians of different religious persuasion. The
right to propagate one’s religion must not be exercised in ways
that violate the right of people of other religions. We deplore the
use and abuse of religion to trample on the rights of others.” Not
shy, the bishops denounced their violent enemies as blasphemous and
fraudulent. “We wish to note that those who claim that they love
God while hating their fellow human beings, even to the extent of
killing them, are liars,” the bishops declared. “God has not given
anyone the right to kill in his name. Neither has he authorized
anyone to violate the dignity of other human beings.”
One bishop preached to his fellow Nigerian prelates: “We must
speak out loud and clear against some states in the northern part
of our country, where the fundamental human rights of Christians to
freedom of religion and worship are abbreviated, where Christians
are not permitted to proclaim their faith publicly; where they are
not allowed to acquire lands for the building of Churches, schools
and hospitals.”
Despite supposed national legal protections, Muslim law often
prevails in Nigeria’s northern provinces. Nigeria’s Catholic
bishops, similar to its Anglican and most other Protestant leaders,
do not trumpet limits on freedom of speech to “protect” religion
but instead are demanding full religious liberty for all
persons.
No doubt many American church leaders could profit from their
courageous and morally consistent example.
