Eye on Extremism: 'South Park' doesn't warrant violence

Groups like "Revolution Muslim" are a stain on the Muslim community. And others – like the Council on American-Islamic Relations – may speak out against such groups but then follow their condemnation with ridiculous accusations blaming others instead of Muslims.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | April 28, 2010
Source & Credit: Oregon Live | The Stump
By Harris Zafar | Portland, OR

Muslims must hate cartoons, right? At least that's how things seem if you read the news these days. The most recent incident involves the famous Comedy Central cartoon "South Park," which depicted the Prophet Muhammad as a teddy bear, the Prophet Buddha snorting cocaine and the Prophet Jesus watching pornography.


What's the result? An apparent "war" between Islam and free speech. An extreme group calling itself "Revolution Muslim" issued a threat to "South Park's" producers that they would face death if they didn't recall this episode. The man who wrote the threat continued on his personal Twitter account to write about the cartoon's creators: "May Allah kill Matt Stone and Trey Parker and burn them in Hell for all eternity."

Many are rightfully outraged that a cartoon episode would trigger such a violent response. The problem is that people have begun thinking that Islam requires a special pass for its followers, and that's not true. Islam is not for censorship. Islam is not for violence or threats of violence. The implicit death threats from "Revolution Muslim" are completely unwarranted and outside the pale of Islam.

Was the "South Park" episode in poor taste? Absolutely. As a Muslim, I found it tasteless to depict the Prophet Muhammad as a teddy bear, but I was even more offended by the depiction of the Prophet Buddha snorting cocaine and the Prophet Jesus watching pornography. But no matter how insulting or classless these depictions were, they don't warrant threats of violence.

Contrary to some people's belief, Islam doesn't impose censorship; rather, it protects everyone's right to express themselves. What it does advise is to use this right responsibly and ethically so as not to offend others. If someone does offend, however, Islam does not prescribe some sort of punishment, nor does it advise its followers to threaten or kill that person.

Groups like "Revolution Muslim" are a stain on the Muslim community. And others – like the Council on American-Islamic Relations – may speak out against such groups but then follow their condemnation with ridiculous accusations blaming others instead of Muslims. In the case of "Revolution Muslim" threatening "South Park" producers, CAIR condemned the group's comments but then proceeded to say that the "Revolution" group must be backed by non-Muslims conspiring to make Islam look bad.

That's where they're wrong. There are enough so-called Muslims who are making Islam look bad to warrant an internal review of where these people have lost their way. Islam is not to blame. It's a faith that advocates peace, freedom, liberty and love for all people, not just Muslims. It's time for misinformed Muslims to learn more about their own faith.

It's time to save Islam from the clutches of extremists and conspiracy theorists. I welcome all Muslims to re-learn their faith in order to comprehend its true nature. Come learn how to defend your faith through logic and intelligence, not through brutality and threats of violence.

Harris Zafar is director of community service for a national Muslim youth organization and a freelance writer based in Portland.

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