Let the bigots rant!

Tuesday November 22, 2011

However offensive their views, Rania Hafez believes the bigoted should not be banned from speaking

Last month when I spoke at the Battle of Ideas conference on ‘Islamophobia: the new racism or liberal angst?’ an agitated and impatient young Swedish man finished off an anti-Muslim diatribe with the declaration that he was ‘opposed to the building of minarets in Sweden just as he was to the building of gas chambers!’

Although I cannot see how minarets (tall mainly decorative towers on the outside of mosques) compare with genocide, and frankly find the whole proposition preposterous, I believe that he should have his say. Had he intended to shock the audience and insult me, he was disappointed, as the motto of the festival is ‘Free Speech Allowed.’

Since then we have had so-called ‘firebrand preacher’ Anjem Choudary from ‘Muslims Against Crusades’ denouncing Britain during the run up to Remembrance Day as a ‘terrorist regime’ which is ‘worse than the Nazis’. Many would have found his views offensive, but just like my Swedish interlocutor, Mr Choudary should also have his say.

Free speech is an absolute, however obnoxious and objectionable the words uttered.

Many would disagree. We hear the constant refrain ‘I believe in free speech, but not for—-’ (insert which ever group offends you the most). Many now think speech can be as hurtful as action. But this is a fallacy. We may be ‘hurt’ by insults, angered by ridicule, and offended by bigotry; we still have the means to respond in kind. We can speak. We can argue back.

If I defend the bigots’ right to speak it, doesn’t mean I have to agree with it. Often people feel compelled to accept and respect all viewpoints. When this means we are faced with opinions we abhor it can be confusing. How are we to tolerate them? Does accepting mean we are aiding and abetting bigotry and hate?

Free speech necessitates tolerance of objectionable views. Tolerance does not mean agreeing with what others say by listening respectfully and not challenging their ideas. By definition we tolerate what we disagree with. Tolerance is an active virtue. The bigot’s right to free speech does not preclude my right to find it offensive, absurd and downright stupid, and say so.

Tolerance is neither acceptance nor indifference. Tolerance makes it our responsibility to challenge and debate. Tolerance should guard us against taking easy offense and stopping speech even if this is an emotional sop for some. At a recent Birmingham Salon, Linda Bellos, the civil rights lawyer and activist said “Being offended is the price we pay for living in a free society”. It’s a price well worth paying.

Rania Hafez is Director of Muslim Women in Education