Freedom of expression is central to Islam<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Freedom of expression, a highly exalted right in
\nWestern liberal democracies, has always been central to Islamic
\nteachings, says a Pakistani scholar.<\/p>\n
Freedom to speak the truth is central to a Moslem's duty,
\nRiffat Hassan, who teaches at University of Kentucky at
\nLouiseville in the United States, said at a discussion on Islam
\nand the idea of freedom of expression last Saturday.<\/p>\n
Moslems have the obligation to use their reason and act or
\nspeak out when they see something is wrong, she said. \"Moslems do
\nnot have the option of being bystanders.\"<\/p>\n
Citing from the Koran, Hassan said Moslems are obliged to act
\nto change a situation when necessary and to condemn a certain act
\nwhen they cannot make changes or speak out.<\/p>\n
Besides the obligation to speak the truth, she said, \"There is
\nthe duty of society to protect those who speak the truth.\"<\/p>\n
Hassan was guest speaker at the discussion, which was
\norganized by the Institute of Studies on the Flow of Information
\n(ISAI).<\/p>\n
Headed by Goenawan Mohamad, former chief editor of the banned
\nTempo magazine, the institute aims to exchange views on freedom
\nof expression with Third World researchers, journalists and human
\nrights advocates.<\/p>\n
Hassan said that a large part of the Koran is concerned with
\nfreedom from tradition, authoritarianism, tribalism, caste
\nsystems and sexism. \"The Koran states that we have the right to
\nseek justice and to do justice.\"<\/p>\n
The Koran, Hassan said, states that when humans die they must
\naccount for their actions before their Creator, who will ask if
\nthey were passive in the face of wrongdoings.<\/p>\n
Some of the rights originally recognized in the Koran,
\nhowever, waned in importance with the decline of Islam after its
\ninitial 300 years of growth, she said.<\/p>\n
Most Moslems today, she said, are living under \"authoritarian\"
\ngovernments ruled by families in countries such as Saudi Arabia,
\nKuwait and her own country, Pakistan, which, she said, \"is ruled
\nby 22 families.\"<\/p>\n
Within such \"an economic and political stranglehold\", and such
\na concentration of wealth and power, Moslem communities face
\neither destruction, as witnessed in Lebanon, religious
\nconservatism, or a just and social order, she said.<\/p>\n
The last option is not possible without freedom of expression,
\n\"because this is the only way of making rulers accountable.\"<\/p>\n
Given the current situation under which many Moslems live, she
\nsaid, society should realize the importance of journalists.<\/p>\n
The Koran, she cited, mentions that in every war there must
\nremain a group of people who study and those who disseminate the
\nnecessary information.<\/p>\n
Before the talks at the Jakarta Legal Aid Office, Hassan
\nvisited Salemba prison in Central Jakarta to see four men
\nconvicted of spreading hatred against the government: former
\njournalists Ahmad Taufik and Eko Maryadi and activists Tri Agus
\nSiswomihardjo and Danang K. Wardoyo.<\/p>\n
\"I was deeply moved that they are full of good cheer and are
\nnot discouraged,\" Hassan said.<\/p>\n
She was also here to address a three-day workshop on
\nreinterpreting Islam from a perspective of justice between men
\nand women.<\/p>\n
The workshop from Thursday to Saturday was held by the
\nIndonesian Forum for Women and Islam, coordinated by sociologist
\nWardah Hafidz. (anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/freedom-of-expression-is-central-to-islam-1447893297",
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