South Africa: Ban on cartoons 'worrying' (S.A. not quite as free as many had thought)

News 24 (South Africa) ^ | February 5, 2006

[Stoat]

Ban on cartoons 'worrying'

05/02/2006 22:40  - (SA)  

Related Articles

• SA Sunday papers gagged

• Cartoons offend SA Muslims

 

 

Johannesburg - The ban on the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in South Africa was worrying and conflicted with press freedom, the Media Institute of Southern Africa said on Sunday.

Misa's Raymond Louw said the Johannesburg High Court's ruling on Friday stated that the right to dignity outweighed the right to freedom of expression.

Judge Mohammed Jajbhay concluded that the cartoons were offensive and an affront to the dignity of the Muslim people.

"Misa regards the ban as an unacceptable intrusion on media freedom and freedom of expression by the courts and believes it is unconstitutional," Louw said.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance said it was dismayed by the decision.

"Media freedom is explicitly constitutionalised in South Africa as part of the right to free speech and expression.

"This means that the media decides without prior restraint by other organs of state what it will publish, and how," said spokesperson Dene Smuts.

The Jamiat-ul Ulama Transvaal sought the interdict late on Friday.

Protests

Publication in Europe of the set of Danish cartoons has given rise to protests, flag-burning and commercial boycotts across the Middle East.

The DA welcomed the resolve shown by the SA National Editors' Forum and the newspaper groups affected by the ruling to resist prior restraint when the matter returns to court at the end of the month.

"The interdict must be lifted - thereafter matters of substance such as the relative importance of the rights to free speech and dignity can be considered," said Smuts.

The Union of Muslim Students Associations said the publication of the cartoons would be offensive.

"Freedom of speech is an inalienable right of all South Africans, enshrined in our Bill of Rights after centuries of struggle to free our land of the oppression of one by another", the students said.

"Another freedom enshrined in our constitution, after this same struggle, is that of religion, belief and opinion.

Limitations" Further, the Bill of Rights enshrines that everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected.

"Tainting and mocking the character of the Prophet Muhammad and any other prophet of Islam or revered Islamic figure, such as Jesus, Moses, Abraham, and/or Mary, is tantamount to degrading the dignity of those who follow Islam.

"All freedoms have limitations... We call for a national dialogue through institutions such as the parliament of the Republic of South Africa, and the media, to promote an understanding of this issue, especially focusing on the reasons why it provokes such a passionate response from the Muslim community."

[Stoat]

It seems that when push comes to shove, South Africa's courts cower under the Islamofascist sword.

It's absolutely essential that all nations who have any interest in being a part of the modern world resist this cartoon jihad.   if they don't it will signal the triumph of  those who would prefer to simply behead us all.

 

 

Media Institute of Southern Africa promoting media diversity . pluralism . self-sufficiency . independence

[LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget]

As an expat, I can tell you RSA is following the Zim model. It will tank in an ugly way when it gets its well deserved Chavez equivalent. Wont take very long either. It is moving that way day by day.

[308MBR]

Since aparthied ended, SA has been taken over by socialists, leftists, tribalists and outright communists. Many of these folks are also Muslim.

In a few years, SA will look like Zimbabwe.

[Screamname]

If simple cartoons drive the Islamo psychos completely over the edge, then obviously the next step a full animated cartoon series.

[sageb1]

What about my dignity? Islam is an affront to my religion and to me.

[SmoothTalker]

We should contact Trey Parker and Matt Stone. They could be the best weapon in our arsenal.

[endthematrix]

SA is an important nation that has an ability to help all of Africa. Too bad it may fall to the Dark Side. If so, I wonder if the US will pick up the pieces?

[Tzimisce]

...but they're not going to stop the rioters, even though the Danes have a right to dignity too...

[peyton randolph]

Exclusive photos of the Mohammed* celebrating this censorship of his likeness.

* Photos of Mohammed provided by Director George Lucas. All jihadist complaints should be directed to him.

[Skywalk]

Judge Mohammad..do you even need to read any further to guess his decision?

[peyton randolph]

We should contact Trey Parker and Matt Stone. They could be the best weapon in our arsenal.

I could easily see an episode where Cartman becomes a jihadist.

[ferri]

As an expat, I can tell you RSA is following the Zim model. It will tank in an ugly way when it gets its well deserved Chavez equivalent. Wont take very long either. It is moving that way day by day.

what i find scary is that most SAer's either don't see it coming or won't admit it. they still claim to live in paradise. (i have SA internet friends...)

[son of caesar]

let me take a wild guess here. sa has a large population of immigrant muslims? sa govt is afraid of riots?

[Stoat]

let me take a wild guess here. sa has a large population of immigrant muslims? sa govt is afraid of riots?

Well, according to a 2001 census published in the CIA World Factbook,

CIA - The World Factbook -- South Africa

South Africa's Muslim population numbers only 1.5%.  Perhaps their rationale for caving on this issue is due to a general lack of backbone under the slightest threat of a problem, a Government desire to build bridges between itself and the Islamofasicsts,  or perhaps the Muslim population has dramatically increased since 2001, I'm sorry I simply don't know.

There are some who have very kindly contributed to this thread who have indicated that they have one sort of link or another to South Africa, and they may have better 'insider' knowledge than I do.  I will send this reply to them also and hopefully one or more of them ( or other readers to this thread) may be able to provide you with a better answer.

[son of caesar]

or perhaps they are completely defeated by us when we forced them to abolish apartheid. aparthied had to go, but once again, we created a vacuum filled by guess what?

[freepatriot32]

Judge Mohammed Jajbhay concluded that the cartoons were offensive and an affront to the dignity of the Muslim people.

Things that make you go hmmmmmmm.

Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here

[Stoat]

or perhaps they are completely defeated by us when we forced them to abolish apartheid. aparthied had to go, but once again, we created a vacuum filled by guess what?

I don't think that you'll be able to find many who can convincingly argue that South Africa has improved since the end of apartheid.  Black rule has sent it spiralling down into a turgid cauldron of breathtakingly violent and vicious crime and my guess is that a nation that is unable to maintain even a semblance of order within it's own borders is not going to have the backbone to stand up for comparatively esoteric principles and intellectual concepts such as freedom of the press.

Hopefully other readers who are closer to South Africa's internal politics might be able to provide more specificity.

[backhoe]

Everything I have found about The War of the 12 Cartoons ( links, blogs, quips, quotes, aggravating pictures ) is located here- click the Pic, and scroll backwards:

[Stoat]

As usual, our good friend Backhoe has the definitive thread on the topic!  Good show, and an essential bookmark for all FReepers  :-)

I found this BackhoeLink particularly interesting:

Mohammed Image Archive

This whole business of being so terribly offended over depictions of Mohammed is merely the most current popular excuse to riot and burn symbols of the West, as there have been NUMEROUS depictions of Mohammed published throughout the ages......it's nothing new at all!

[backhoe]