Critical Thinking On Religion Is Not Special And Should Not Be Allowed To Limit Free Speech; Based On The Charlie Hebdo Case.

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Religion is a sensitive issue amongst many people around the world. Some would debate that religion must not be mixed with worldly affairs. However, there are other matters in the world that have been equated with the importance that religion carries and life cannot go on without abiding by them. The Charlie Hebdo case is a kind where the question of drawing a boundary between religion and political/worldly matters should be drawn, has been raised and asked. If posting a neutral stance at the issue, freedom of speech is the right of everyone. If a newspaper intends to be satirical over people, matters of the state and politics, then giving an opinion over a religious thought should also not be a matter of criticism. (Debate. Org, 2015). The paper only intended to unveil its opinions on certain matters and religion is an institution that is not agreed on by everyone as there are various religions that preach one thing or another. The truth of any matter only comes out of discussions, debates and passing remarks about the way things happen in certain ways. Freedom of speech is a right protected by the State, and the constitution hence the right of freedom of speech in religion is also not separable from this and cannot be raised to a higher level. If the paper printed anything that harmed the sentiments of people, it was not the intention they had rather it was only an expression of thought and must have been treated like that. (Debating Europe, 2015).
Charlie Hebdo had no such intentions to criticize one specific religion as the paper gave its opinion on all religions the way it wished to express its notions on it. The caricatures were means of expressing satire through a reflection of the present state of affairs and religion was not supposed to be taken personally.(Max, 2015). If religion can criticize the various lifestyles and choices such as homosexuality, then it can bear criticism on it as well because man has been born free and religion becomes a choice for him with the passage of time. Freedom of speech is a basic right and cannot be taken away, even if it is used to speak against religion.

References

Debating Europe. (2015). Do you believe there are limits to freedom of speech?. [Accessed
Debate. Org. (2015). Should there be restrictions on freedom of speech. [Accessed March 17,
2015]. Available from http://www.debate.org/opinions/should-there-be-restrictions-on-freedom-of-speech
Infamous. [Accessed March 17, 2015]. Available from http://gawker.com/what-is-charlie-hebdo-and-why-a-mostly-complete-histo-1677959168