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Lunatic fringe at both ends

If I found a magic lamp, rubbed it and a genie came out to grant me three literary wishes, the first would be never to hear the words “Islamists” and “death threats” together again; the second would be to erase the word ‘burqa’ and the third I would keep for a rainy day.

There are some crazy fanatics out there whose sole task in life seems to be to post death threats on the Internet. On the whole I try to ignore them. Their view of Islam is so different to mine that I am not sure we are of the same faith. I also know that I cannot change their minds about anything so I keep away. I neither want to read what they say nor wish them to read what I write. Our worlds do not meet.

But then every now and then, despite myself, their existence is brought to my attention and usually in a sentence that involves the words “Islamists” and “death threats”. Though I loathe the word “Islamist” and considered having that as one of the words obliterated by the genie, I am at least thankful that its existence means it is no longer a blanket generic: “Muslims are violent and will kill anyone who criticises or pokes fun at their religion”.

Instead the common belief has split into two. On one side the blood-curdling violence of the extremists labelled “Islamists” who vow to kill people who disagree with their view of Islam and on the other, the view that at best Muslims lack a sense of humour and at worst Muslims are unreasonably and irrationally intolerant of criticism.

Here is a recent example. This is a headline from the New York Times: “Islamist Death Threats Aren’t a Cartoon Joke.” The headline refers to an episode of the satirical animated series “South Park”. This was the 200^th anniversary episode in which there were parts deemed offensive to Muslims.

I happen to like South Park. It is often very funny. In some respects it tests our ability to laugh at ourselves and at the world in which we live by daubing it in caricatural colours. In no way does the show insult Islam, and folks let’s get a grip, our religion is beautiful and strong enough not to be sullied by a couple of eggs being thrown in its direction. In this instance what is being satirised is Muslim reactions or over-reactions to satire aimed at their beliefs.

And sure enough an “Islamist” group obliged. A group called Revolution Muslim posted a notice on its web site saying that the Prophet (peace be upon him) had been insulted and for this crime the two creators of South Park “will probably wind up like Theo van Gogh for airing this show.”

Note how clever the threat posters have become, wording their threats in an indirect way thus sneakily protecting themselves from being prosecuted. The threat led to Comedy Central, the show’s broadcaster, to bleep out some references in the second part of the anniversary episode. In turn this led to that other irreverent animated show “The Simpsons” altering their opening titles with Bart Simpson now writing “South Park we’d stand beside you if we weren’t so scared” on the classroom blackboard.

Once again the association of the word Islamist and death threats have triumphed and led to censorship. As for the burqa, how dearly I would like to see it disappear! However you wish to spell it, is any of it necessary?

Belgium is to become the first country to make it an offense to walk in the street wearing it and France is likely to follow very soon. It is all so expedient. Belgium, in the middle of a constitutional crisis, finds time to pass a law that will affect less than a hundred women in its evidently unveiled population. France’s president and interior minister also find the time to bring up the subject of banning the burqa at every opportunity.

Could it be that at a time when Europe is facing the prospect of a financial crisis, it is easier to talk about a daft but popular piece of legislation? It conveniently makes colourful headlines and fills newspapers columns, switching attention away from what politicians do not want to discuss. It’s the kind of diversional tactic children often resort to. And must women living in Europe really resort to wearing such a garment? Surely here too a game of politics is 
being played.

It is no coincidence that the case of the woman given a fine in Nantes for driving whilst wearing a burqa only made headlines two weeks after the event and only because the woman called a press conference to express her indignation. The story snowballed and moved onto her husband, who was found to have four wives, or mistresses he soon clarified not wanting to be arrested for bigamy.

How convenient here too that a man will describe himself publicly as having four “mistresses” when he has married all four women under Islamic law. It all sums up an attitude among a tiny segment of the Muslim population who are intent on provoking a reaction in a land that sees their brand of Islam as reactionary and medieval. The truth is I have no magic lamp and the burqa will continue to make politics but it ought not to have a place either in legislation or on the streets of Europe.

Iman Kurdi is an Arab writer based in Nice, France