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Limits to freedom

If some of the Western writers and thinkers live in the Middle East for some time, they will appreciate the devoutness of many Muslims and their displeasure of any irreverence on religious matters.

The drawing of another controversial cartoon in the current issue of Charlie Hebdo is insensitive and unnecessary. The Muslims constitute about 1.6 billion, i.e. 23 per cent of the global population. They do not approve of drawing pictures or cartoons of religious personalities. So why provoke them unnecessarily?

I do grant that writers, thinkers and cartoonists should have the liberty of self-expression. However, this freedom must be tempered with the responsibility for respect for the religious sentiments of all communities. If some of the Western writers and thinkers live in the Middle East for some time, they will appreciate the devoutness of many Muslims and their displeasure of any irreverence on religious matters. Intellectual irreverence should not trample on the religious reverence of another person.

Rajendra K. Aneja, Dubai

This letter expresses the personal views of the author and does not reflect the opinion of Khaleej Times.