Publication

This paper explores the concept of the freedom of speech, as it relates to religion, focusing on the January, 2015, Charlie Hebdo incident. He argues that while causing offence to others does not breach the concept of free speech, when considering cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, geopolitical context cannot be ignored. His main points are that 1) images such as that portraying the Prophet Muhammad in the French magazine may perpetuate stereotypes and be perceived as part of a neo-colonial project to denigrate minorities and the Muslim world; 2) in particular, Islamophobia and the post-colonial context provide a context wherein the Islamic 'Other' within Western societies is marginalized and often experiences oppression; and 3) therefore, what appears to be legitimate freedom of speech may actually be a discourse of suppression. The author thus considers possible objections around individual autonomy and the power of religion, and suggests principles when considering the limits of freedom of speech.