Charlie Hebdo Cartoon Mocking Syrian And Turkish Earthquake Victims: A Display Of Immorality And Prejudice Against Muslims

By Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam 23 February 2023 The Caricature from Charlie Hebdo Shows How Anti-Muslim and Islamophobic Sentiment Has Risen In France Main Points · The Charlie Hebdo cartoon mocked the victims of the earthquake and thus received harsh criticism from a substantial number of social media users. · Fostering hatred and contempt for Muslims has been pervasive in France, especially in recent decades. · In the past, Charlie Hebdo published a number of drawings that were openly derogatory and hostile towards Islam and its ideals. · The magazine's actions are unmistakable evidence of extreme anti-Islamic prejudice. · Making fun of any victim of a disaster is never acceptable, regardless of their colour or religion. · The more we criticise the Charlie Hebdo caricature, the less we actually condemn it. ------- The front page of Charlie Hebdo entitled C'est Reparti (Here we go again), is displayed at a kiosk in Nice February 25, 2015. Reuters/FILE ----- Some things are so obviously wrong and odd that only a heartless, spiteful person could find them funny or acceptable. The recently published Charlie Hebdo caricature, which is known for spreading hatred across the globe under the pretext of humour and entertainment, serves as an example of this. In the past, Charlie Hebdo published a number of drawings that were openly derogatory and hostile towards Islam and its ideals. This cartoon mocked thousands of Syrians and Turks who died in Turkey's devastating earthquake a few days ago and were also injured. Turkish and international social media users have responded vehemently and rightfully against the magazine for this inhumane and unethical behaviour. Everyone agrees that Charlie Hebdo's actions were improper, racially discriminatory, and motivated by ingrained prejudices against Muslims and other races in French culture. Fostering hatred and contempt for Muslims has been pervasive in France, especially in recent decades. The fundamentally wrong sense of superiority that dominates French society appears to attack not only Muslims but also other races. Following the catastrophic earthquake that affected millions of people in the two countries and claimed at least 20,000 lives, the cartoon garnered strong criticism from a sizable number of social media users. The users described the cartoon as "disgusting," "shameful," "filthy," and “horrifyingly reminiscent of hate speech”. A female user responded by declaring that she was stopping her support for the magazine. The "true core" of Charlie Hebdo, according to one commentator, was portrayed in the cartoon, while Islamophobia was the only thing the journal was profitable for, according to another. Dr. Omar Suleiman, an American Muslim scholar, said: “Mocking the death of thousands of Muslims is the peak of how France has dehumanized us in every way.”< A woman by the name of Ushna Shah said, “#CharlieHebdo is a disgraced, racist and fascist publication. It takes the lowest level of sickness to mock such a disaster. Beyond deplorable; this will surpass “not bathing” as the worst thing France will ever be known for. Disgusting” #CharlieHebdo is a disgraced, racist and fascist publication. It takes the lowest level of sickness to mock such a disaster. Beyond deplorable; this will surpass “not bathing” as the worst thing France will ever be known for. Disgusting. — Ushna Shah (@ushnashah) February 9, 2023 Other Twitter users mentioned how Turkish residents organised marches in favour of the "Je suis Charlie" movement following the 2015 tragedy, only to encounter pushback that many perceived as ridicule. Znur Küçüker Sirene, a political expert, tweeted at the magazine. “Even the Turks were ‘Charlie Hebdo’ to share your grief and today you dare mock the suffering of an entire people. One must really have some nerve to do this while there are still babies waiting to be rescued underneath the rubble,” she said. Mohammad Haider Raza Misbahi, an Islamic scholar, posted the following on Facebook in Urdu, which is translated as follows in English: Heartbreaking Cartoon by Charlie Hebdo on Turkey Earthquake Several tremors of the most destructive earthquake were felt last Monday in Turkey and Syria. According to official data, the magnitude of the earthquake has already claimed the lives of almost 20,000 individuals (with each passing time, this number is increasing). Both of the affected countries are receiving active assistance from the international community. India also dispatched soldiers from its National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) along with the necessary humanitarian supplies. Moreover, the project as a whole was referred to as "Operation Dost." It's been said that evil people come to light during difficult times. The world has once again seen the repulsive side of the offensive French magazine Charlie Hebdo thanks to this terrible tragedy. In fact, it mocked those who had to endure this heavenly calamity in the shape of an earthquake by writing, "Now there is no need to even send a tank," in a cartoon titled "Earthquake in Turkey." In this way, this magazine mocked and celebrated the deaths of innocent people in the name of "freedom of expression." This action has also revealed the motivations of the magazine for wanting to destroy Muslim countries and people. Remember that this is the blasphemous publication that has repeatedly dared to publish caricatures meant to incite hatred against Muslims. In one of the hadiths, the beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) said (إذا لم تستحي، فاصنع ما شئت) what is best rendered in Persian as follows: “Behayaa Baash, Harche Khawahi Kun” i.e. ‘If you don't feel shame, then do whatever you want' The same may be said of such dishonest people and groups as Charlie Hebdo. The holy Quran may have issued this warning to such senseless people by saying, "Die in your fury." .......by Mohammad Haider Raza [Translated by Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi] To completely grasp this verse, it would be really interesting to quote the entire verse. Almighty Allah declares in this verse: “Look, you [O Muslims] are the ones who love them and they do not love you. And you believe in the Book, in all of it. And when they meet you, they say, 'We believe", and when they are alone they bite their fingertips out of rage against you. Say [O Prophet], 'Die in your rage." Surely, Allah is All-Aware of what lies in the hearts.” (3:119) This verse alludes to the hypocrisy of some individuals who existed during the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and who regularly incited irrational fury and hatred. The more we criticise the Charlie Hebdo caricature, the less we actually condemn it. The magazine's actions are unmistakable evidence of extreme anti-Islamic prejudice. There is a growing anti-Muslim mentality in France and many other Western countries that is characterised by a completely unjustified fear and hatred of Islam and Muslims. One of the main reasons Muslims are marginalised and the target of discrimination not only in France but also around the world is because of this Islamophobia, which is usually fuelled by inaccurate information and unfavourable stereotypes. By mocking the earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria, Charlie Hebdo not only contributes to these negative attitudes but also to the widespread anti-Muslim prejudice in France and abroad. Making fun of any victim of a disaster is never acceptable, regardless of their colour or religion. For instance, when Charlie Hebdo itself was attacked in 2015, neither the Turkish government nor their social strata joined in the celebration. Instead, it sent a senior ambassador to Paris to show solidarity with France against terrorism. The earthquake victims in Turkey need to be treated with respect and decency because they have experienced enormous loss and trauma. In addition to being cynical, mocking their pain conveys the message that their families and loved ones, as well as their lives and experiences, are not cherished or respected. This kind of message is extremely damaging in the context of French and larger Western culture, which is already sharply divided along ethnic and religious lines. ---- A regular Columnist with NewAgeIslam.com, Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi Dehlvi is a Classical Islamic scholar with a Sufi background and English-Arabic-Urdu Translator. URL: https://newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/hebdo-cartoon-earthquake-immorality-prejudice/d/129178 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism