Yes, we have the right to caricature God
You’ve got the right, just not the ability to do so without repercussions, at least not in France.
The managing editor of France Soir, Jacques Lefranc, was fired after the publication by owner Raymond Lakah, an Egyptian magnate, employees said. No official reason was immediately announced.
With just a tad of highlighting, “official reason” is needed–or so one would think.
The managing editor of France Soir, Jacques Lefranc, was fired after the publication by owner Raymond Lakah, an Egyptian magnate, employees said. No official reason was immediately announced.
But the reason Lefranc was fired is not religious. It’s business. Lakah is not a Muslim.
The case of this 41-year-old Coptic Christian dramatizes the destructiveness of Hosni Mubarak?s human-rights policies upon a nation that was once the cultural leader in the region and raises some of the steep challenges facing President Bush?s democratization push for the country.
He just has to do business with them. Raymond/Rami/Ramy owns Star Airlines company, among others. Where does Star fly?
Dedicated to tourist traffic, STAR AIRLINES operates scheduled flights mainly to long-haul destinations in Africa and the Middle East, and charter flights to medium-haul destinations in the Mediterranean.
What do you think would happen to the all-important Ramadan pilgrimage traffic once word got out that the owner of Star Airlines also published a paper that printed blasphemous pictures of the Prophet?
Still, if you’re a Westerner, or at the very least devoted to the fundamental principles of the West, fly something else. Not because of Lakah’s nationality, but because of his refusal to defend the values he claimed to have when he first fled Egypt.
As for the Nina Shea article and Lakah’s fitness to lead a pro-democracy movement in Egypt…If Lakah can’t live up to basic democratic standards in France, why should we expect him to do so in Egypt?
Update:
Don’t by any means think that Lakah is the only pansy when it comes to placating the Mohammadean fundies. He’s got plenty of company.
(CNN has chosen to not show the cartoons in respect for Islam.)
Here’s another nugget from the CNN(Cowardly News Network) story above
According to Le Monde, which described Lakah as “Franco-Egyptian,” the publisher issued a statement saying he had decided to fire Lefranc as president and director of the newspaper in “a strong sign of respect to the intimate convictions and beliefs of each individual.”
As long as that individual is a Muslim….
