To start off, I am all for free speech and expression. I am even running a campaign to push for the repeal of the sedition act. But no, I am NOT Charlie Hebdo.
What's in it for free speech and expression? To walk about naked on the streets, to watch porn in public, to ridicule another religion, race, or even class of society as you like.... in the name of freedom of speech & expression.
Can I be allowed to say anything just because I feel like it?
Can I just walk around the mall and call anyone stupid if I don't like their face?
Can I walk into a church and scream "Jesus is naked on the cross"?
Can I walk into a temple and say "you guys are really unconcerned about the smoke from the joss sticks"?
Nope. That's not freedom of speech & expression. It's a misuse of fundamental liberty.
Freedom of speech & expression can never, and should never be absolute.
There has always been a fine line between freedom of speech & expression and respect. It is sick and insensible to say that I should be allowed draw a cartoon ridiculing the faiths of others in the name of freedom of speech & expression.
This very unfortunate incident has unraveled two ugly truths:
1. The constant demonising of Islam in the West.
2. The extremism of certain religious groups.
But what's even more unfortunate, is how many people overlooked the earlier one.
With the constant taunting against the Quran & Prophet Muhammad, was Charlie Hebdo expecting the 1.6bil Muslim population to just sit down and let it be 'entertainment'?
Google the Charlie Hebdo cartoon dressed in a militant outfit and holding an AK47. It reads: "Still no terrorist attacks in France - Wait, we have until the end of January to send our best wishes."
That is not freedom of speech and expression. That is provocation.
To every action, there would be a reaction. And was this something Charlie Hebdo foreseen? I leave that to your wise judgment.
Now I am not saying that the killings are justified. It is not, and shall never be justified. Two wrongs don't make one right. An eye for an eye makes the world go crazier.
So what's the problem here?
What I see is a hypocritical and self-righteous Western culture and media, ridiculing the Islamic world in the name of freedom of speech and expression.
Think about it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
**Adrian Lim Chee En is the founder of Mahasiswa Ganyang
**The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Astro AWANI.
Adrian Lim Chee En
Fri Jan 09 2015
![I am NOT Charlie Hebdo I am NOT Charlie Hebdo](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-01/71420641238_295x200.jpg)
Gunmen shot 12 people at the Paris office of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo on Wednesday. - File Photo
![Rasionalisasi RON95 dijangka beri impak lebih besar kepada PKS - SAMENTA Rasionalisasi RON95 dijangka beri impak lebih besar kepada PKS - SAMENTA](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-03/81646741163_DatukWilliamNg.jpg)
Rasionalisasi RON95 dijangka beri impak lebih besar kepada PKS - SAMENTA
SAMENTA menjangkakan rasionalisasi RON95 akan memberi impak yang lebih besar kepada perusahaan kecil dan sederhana (PKS) berbanding pelarasan subsidi diesel.
![Malaysia sasar pengeluaran 40 peratus sektor akuakultur menjelang 2030 Malaysia sasar pengeluaran 40 peratus sektor akuakultur menjelang 2030](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-09/71694910732_DatukArthurJoseph.jpg)
Malaysia sasar pengeluaran 40 peratus sektor akuakultur menjelang 2030
Malaysia menyasarkan pengeluaran 40 peratus hasil sektor akuakultur menjelang 2030 dalam usaha membantu mengimbangi keperluan perikanan negara.
10 Berita Pilihan - (16 Julai 2024
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp
Jawatankuasa Kira-kira Wang Negara (PAC) memberi tempoh tiga bulan kepada Perbadanan Pembangunan Sumber Manusia (HRD Corp) untuk mengemukakan laporan tindakan susulan terhadap syor jawatankuasa itu.
Kylian Mbappe tandatangan kontrak dengan Real Madrid
Bintang bola sepak Perancis Kylian Mbappe menandatangani kontrak selama lima tahun dengan kelab Sepanyol Real Madrid pada Selasa.
Pelepasan ketujuh air sisa nuklear Fukushima ke laut selesai
Jepun telah menyelesaikan pusingan ketujuh pelepasan air sisa radioaktif yang dirawat dari loji kuasa nuklear Fukushima Daiichi ke Lautan Pasifik pada Selasa.
Empat termasuk kapten maut dalam pertempuran
Empat anggota tentera India termasuk kapten meninggal dunia akibat kecederaan selepas pertempuuran pada malam isnin di Hutan Desa.
Pakistan sahkan 4 warganya terbunuh di Oman
Pakistan berkata pada Selasa empat warganya terbunuh dalam insiden tembakan pada malam Isnin berhampiran ibu negara Oman, Muscat.
Lima terbunuh, puluhan cedera dalam protes antikuota di Bangladesh
Sekurang-kurangnya empat orang terbunuh dan puluhan lagi cedera dalam pertempuran antara pelajar yang memprotes sistem kuota dalam pekerjaan sektor awam dan polis di pelbagai bahagian Bangladesh pada Selasa.
Kerajaan cadang perkenal pembiayaan swasta
Kerajaan menyasarkan untuk memperkenalkan pembiayaan swasta alternatif bagi memastikan kemampanan kewangan program sektor air, sekali gus mengurangkan kebergantungan pada perbelanjaan kerajaan dan mengukuhkan daya tahan.
![Gol Syahmi mendahului, teruskan undian anda! Gol Syahmi mendahului, teruskan undian anda!](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-12/51544258802_SyahmiSafari.jpg)
Gol Syahmi mendahului, teruskan undian anda!
Gol jaringan Syahmi itu dicalonkan bersama tiga pemain yang lain iaitu Patrick Reichelt (Filipina), Thitipan Puangchan (Thailand) dan Nguyen Quang Hai (Vietnam).