Zapiro a rebel with one too many causes

In what is going to be considered a highly controversial move the National Press Club (NPC) on Sunday called for a meeting between Jonathan Shapiro, the Mail & Guardian and Muslim leaders to discuss the cartoon that has angered the Muslim community.

According to NPC chairperson Yusuf Abramjee: “The media needs to be sensitive to religious beliefs and must not marginalise any community. We need to act responsibly. As a Muslim myself, I find it offensive and provocative. We promote freedom of speech and expression. But, let’s not forget that it is not absolute. In this case, it must be weighed against religious tolerance.”

Undoubtedly Abramjee has a point and it seems to be that Zapiro was pushing the boundaries of freedom of speech beyond where they needed to go. Why was it necessary for him to join in the campaign and cause offence in the first place?

To show he can?

Yet this does leave us with the problem of hypocrisy on the part of the NPC in that it seemed to be very tolerant when Zapiro was attacking the Jews or the churches.

Unlike the case in point, they were not exactly falling all over themselves on those occasions and demanding that people respect the religions of others. Nor was there any mention of keeping politics and religion apart when it came to cartoons.

Worse, as the chairperson of the NPC, Abramjee is showing partisanship where his position requires that he be above that or at least recuse himself from dealing with the issue at hand.

On NewsTime we have scoured the web for the Muslim position on the issue and are trying to convey their feelings on the issue. They have every right to be angry in this instance because by drawing the cartoon Zapiro might be extending the boundaries of free speech but — as far as I’m concerned — in an area where it is wholly inappropriate and totally unnecessary.

Why cause offence simply because you can?

I get outraged by anti-Semitism so the Muslim community has my full sympathy here.

Yet the thrust of the attack on this issue must be driven by the Muslim community and not organisations like the NPC or any other institutions that are required to be neutral in dealing with the issues of the day.

As for Zapiro, his courage sometimes outdoes his sensibility on certain issues.

That said he has stood up to tyranny — from everyone and anyone — where most people would fear to tread and thereby deserves all the acclaim that he gets.

Please find below a link to a cartoon for your latest ‘Zapiro Mohammed cartoon’ post:

Zapiro’s Mohammed cartoon – Wonkie!