Fatah outraged at al-Arabiyah television

While we tend to take the right to freedom of speech for granted in America, it is seen as a threat in much of the the Arab world, and sometimes even relatively innocuous statements can result in stoning, decapitation, torture-- or death.

Shortly after 911, cameraman in the West Bank and Gaza were filming the numerous Palestinian expressions of joy at the murder of some 3000 people in the U.S. Arafat decided that it would not be good public relations if the world saw how the Palestinians behaved, so reporters and cameramen were threatened and assaulted.

Cameras and film were confiscated or destroyed-- very little reporting on the Palestinians' barbaric celebrations got out.

This is one short film clip that did make it out, and which was then aired on American TV-- shocking many who were unaware of the degree of depravity of these people. (Here are several articles on the parties in Palestinian areas on September 11, and the threats made against reporters).



A Palestinian woman receives free sweets from a vendor as groups of locals in east Jerusalem's Old City celebrate after hearing the news of a terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001. AP Photo/str. (911 info: hattip LGF)

Recently, some cartoons of Mohammed were published in Jyllands Posten, a Danish newspaper. All sorts of threats against freedom of expression in Denmark materialized. These included official protests by several diplomats from Arab countries-- all trying to coerce Denmark into giving up its democratic tradition of free speech. (If you are curious to see the cartoons that caused all the controversy, you can see them here and here).

The amount of brouhaha that has been generated by these innocuous cartoons may strike us in America as astounding. Some really absurd actions occurred-- you can read about it in depth in this series of articles:

1. Background: Warning to Danes: Forget Pakistan for the Holidays
2. Sacred Animal Farm (more on Muslim sensitivities)
3. They Don't Blink in Denmark
4. The Silence is Deafening

And, the fuss over these cartoons is still not over!

Regarding the subject of attempts at stifling freedom of speech, I just came across this. A relatively minor story, perhaps, but still another indication of the lack of democratic values, lack of respect for free speech-- and, for that matter, lack of respect for human life-- that is so prevalent throughout most of the Arab world:

Fatah outraged at al-Arabiyah television

Fatah gunmen on Saturday threatened to shut the offices of the pan-Arab Al-Arabiyah satellite TV station in the West Bank and Gaza Strip after accusing it of "defaming" Palestinian female suicide bombers and their families.

"This film depicts female suicide bombers as a group of women suffering from psychological problems and who are under pressure from males. It claims that in order to rid themselves of these problems, these women are prepared to kill themselves. They also claimed that these women were ill- behaved."

The group hailed female suicide bombers for their role in "defending the people and the land," saying they had brought honor to Islam and Muslims worldwide.

The controversial film tells the story of female suicide bombers in Iraq, Russia, Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories.

Journalists working for Al-Arabiya expressed deep concern over the threats made by the Aksa Martyrs Brigades. "We were not involved in the film," one of them told The Jerusalem Post. "The film was produced by a foreign company and purchased by Al-Arabiya."

(Complete Article)

(Cross posted on A Deeper Look)