Islam, in its intellectual content on the level of doctrine, Sharia, humanitarian concepts, and the personality of the Messenger (p.), is constantly subjected to distorting and offending campaigns. These occur in the media, movies, research centers, and intelligence agencies. They depict Islam as a religion of violence and terror. This is done by generalizing the behavior of one "Islamic" group to describe all of Islam and all Muslims.
These campaigns are not just in media or arts. They have moved into politics. The goal is to instigate against Muslims to expel them from their countries. A recent example is a Dutch MP. He produced a film to offend the Quran. He called on Muslims to tear out and throw away half of it if they want to stay in Holland. He claimed it is the essence of evil. He also called on the Dutch government to ban the Quran, similar to how it has banned some Nazi books.
In this regard, we have points to clarify for both Western and Islamic public opinion.
Firstly: We strongly believe in freedom of expression. It is a humanitarian and civilized principle. But this freedom must go hand in hand with respect. Otherwise, it loses its civilized content. It turns into a kind of aggression against the other. It becomes an aggression on their sacred beliefs.
Therefore, the pictures published offensively depicting Prophet Muhammad (p.) are not freedom of expression. They are an aggression against one-fifth of the world's population. They also attack many citizens in Western countries.
The Holy Quran provides a civilized principle. Allah says: "And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah, lest they insult Allah in enmity without knowledge" Surah Al-An'am (6:108). This means every community has sacred symbols that should not be offended. Offense draws counter-reactions. Islam wishes to remove such excitation. It seeks an objective and fruitful intellectual dialogue, not one based on emotional reaction.
Secondly: We emphasize these methods are not free expression. We wonder why these people do not dare to criticize Jewish teachings that despise other nations. Some rabbis describe other nations as “insects and snakes.” Their books glorify violence against others. Moreover, why are Western laws that prevent criticism of Judaism not criticized? These laws operate under the principle of rejecting anti-Semitism.
Thirdly: We call for studying the Glorious Quran scientifically and objectively. A fair reader will find that the Quran emphasizes human dignity. It considers humans as Allah's viceroys on earth. The Quran is a call for love and mercy. It calls for using the best means and words in dialogue with others.
It represents a movement towards dialogue. It calls for meeting on the basis of the unity of God and the unity of humanity. It states that Christians are the nearest to Muslims in affection. On the other hand, the Quran did not create anything new regarding struggle. It called for fighting only as a reaction to aggression. Allah says: "Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors" Surah Al-Baqarah (2:190). This has always represented the civilized line of self-defense against imminent aggression.
Fourthly: Efforts should not be directed towards offending Islam and the Quran. The Quran embodies values of good and justice. Instead, efforts should be directed against the brutal violence practiced against poor nations. This includes killing, destruction, plunder of wealth, and confiscating their future. The world is legitimizing usurpation and occupation. These are based on the collective eradication of peoples. This is happening in Palestine. A Jewish state was instituted on the ruins of another nation under the pretense of religious historic rights.
Fifthly: We reject the method of thinking in our Islamic society that cancels the other who is different. This applies to differences in religion, sect, or politics. We believe the method of Takfir has been adopted by many secular parties against Islam and Muslims. If this method produces violence in the Islamic sphere, we see a Takfiri Western movement. It justifies violence against Muslims in Western societies. These societies embraced them as citizens or residents. These calls were accompanied by warnings from the Israeli President a few years ago. He warned Europe that its states might become Muslim. He said the number of Muslims could reach 30 million in a few years.
Sixthly: We should be aware. Some campaigns in the Western media might be instigated by a Jewish movement. It aims to block any serious international Muslim-Christian rapprochement. Those who sought Christian acquittance for their historic aggression against Jesus Christ (a.s.) also work to promote the theory of a Muslim-Christian clash. We mention this point because we believe in establishing a united Islamic-Christian front. This spiritual and humanitarian front would be based on values. It represents a challenge to the Zionist project. That project is based on violence, arrogance, and despising other nations.
Seventhly: It is clear that aggression against Muslim sacred symbols induces reactions. These reactions are in nobody's interest. It also provides a pretense for Takfiri movements. They can justify their violence among Muslim communities in the West. They can deploy young, enthusiastic Muslims by focusing on retaliation. This retaliation targets aggressions against Muslim sacred symbols. It is done in the name of a freedom of expression that does not accept criticism of Israeli, Jewish, or Zionist claims.
Therefore, the Dutch government—and all others—must assume its responsibility. This is regarding the showing of this offending film or any like it, now or in the future. They must safeguard the peace we seek for the entire world.
Eighthly: We call upon all Muslims in the world, especially in the West. Haunt all movements that try to distort Islam or offend its sacred symbols. We ask their intellectuals, elites, religious scholars, and all their popular potentials to shoulder their responsibilities. This is on media, political, legal, artistic, and literary levels. They must stop these offending movements and reveal their goals. They must attempt to create a rift between Muslims and their Western societies.
They should use the civilized means guaranteed by their countries' laws. These means increase public sympathy with our just causes.
We also call for a wide artistic movement. It should present Western public opinion with Islamic civilized values. It should introduce Islam as a religion that opens up to all other religions. Islam has contributed greatly to human civilization. It is not a religion that makes aggression. It defends itself in the face of aggression.
In this respect, we emphasize the need for conscious Muslims to take the initiative. They must build broad relations with Western thinkers and researchers on all levels. This will thwart attempts to misguide Western public opinion about our Islamic issues.
Lastly: We ask the United Nations and its member countries about their commitment. They must reject anti-Islamism, as the former UN Secretary General emphasized. This is in addition to anti-Semitism. There should be no double standards.
We have also called for international friendship between all people. All followers of religion should meet on the basis of justice, love, respect, and good for all.