http://www.independent.co.uk/news/m...ohamed-as-bbc-changes-guidelines-9968473.html
BBC has made the right response I think. Basically in response to the Charlie Hebdo massacre, the BBC is removing its ban on depictions of the prophet Mohammed.
Personally I dont think that's necessarily the right way to go. The presenter of the last leg said it well last night. "I'm not going to show the cartoons of Mohammed, not because I fear reprisal, but because it's offensibe to million of people."
While a blanket ban also makes no sense there needs to be a some sensitivity here, much like in news articles when dead bodies are show. Respect for others (non violent) sensitivities should be high up people's list whether it is muslims and Mohammed or jokes about recently deceased people.
Your typical average Muslim, then? I know quite a few too. Do they represent the majority in the world? Then I hope you're right.
Not ALL
And it's not a minority either, that's precisely the point.
Check out the polls on the subject. But I guess they don't count, or are not representative, or whatever. Check out the poll, in Pakistan, or in Malaysia, one of the more progressive Muslim country.
Here's one for your convenience. Think what you will, but there is quite some way to go.
That's not what I'm getting at. When push comes to shove, there is a reluctance to pick anything at all. It is not the same attitude.
Most muslims I've met around the world really just want to carry on their every day lives. They don't care what others believe. The idea that there is this worldwide uprising of the majority of Muslims against the west to force their religion on the west is as ridiculous a conspiracy as the no moon landings jokers. A very, very small vocal minority want that certainly, they are the ones that "shout" loudest and they are the ones the west appear to be listening to. They do not represent the average muslim in the same way the EDL and BNP do not represent the average Brit.
As for that link I'm not sure it proves what you think it proves... For starters
Overwhelming percentages of Muslims in many countries want Islamic law (sharia) to be the official law of the land, according to a worldwide survey by the Pew Research Center. But many supporters of sharia say it should apply only to their country’s Muslim population
Moreover, Muslims are not equally comfortable with all aspects of sharia: while most favour using religions law in family and property disputes, fewer support the application of severe punishment - such as whipping or cutting of hands - in criminal cases. The survey also shows that Muslims differ widely in how they interpret certain aspects of sharia, including whether divorce and family planning are acceptable.
Remember that sharia law is not a single peice of legislation throughout the muslm world. It's not, it's a catch all phrase to cover Islamic based laws that vary significantly from country to country. The sharia law most people in the west seem to bring up is the hardline sharia law of Saudi arabia, which is totally different to sharia law in other countries. Saudi is one of the most hardline countries out there (see the stoning article yesterday), yet even there most sharia law doesn't apply to non Muslims.
So while many Muslims support the idea of sharia law they most don't believe it should apply to non Muslims (and most countries make that distinction clearly) and a significant proportion don't believe it should include serve punishment. Then there is obviously the variation on what people believe sharia law should be. What does that all sound like? The variation in law inchristian based countries.
Now on to european Muslims.
20% of Kosovan Muslims want some form of sharia law, 15% of Bosnian Muslims and 12% of Albanian Muslims. That's not particularly high, especially in those countries where islam is very devout relative to the rest of Europe. Then there is Turkey, with another 12% figure. So already the idea that most european Muslims want some form of sharia law is put to bed, it's only a small minority.
Another interesting note that even in the most devout locations on the globe less than half of supporters of sharia believe it should apply to non Muslims. In South East Europe just under two thirds of people that support sharia believe it SHOULD NOT apply to non Muslims.
There is also a handy chart that suggests out of the few in favour of sharia law in Europe only a third believe corporal punishment should apply and only 13% believe in capital punishment for leaving islam.
There are also some nice titbits on women's rights and a poll that shows around 90+% of Muslims worldwide believe in religious freedom and the right of people to practice any religion they please.
Another chart shows that extremism is rejected wholeheartedly by almost every country,with the only country supporting suicide bombing being Palestine, whereas in SE Europe the numbers against suicide bombing are close to 100%.
So essentially that report you linked to shows that in Europe support for sharia law is very low amongst Muslims, even in countries with a long history and significant proportion of Muslims AND that worldwide there is no single definition of Sharia Law, with significant variation seen throughout the regions.
So as a non muslim living in Europe I don't think you have to worry about sharia law affecting you any time soon... Now go have a holiday to Egypt (one of the strongest supporters of sharia) and buy yourself a local beer, because as a non muslim you can do that...
I'm posting this from my phone so haven't been able to directly post the poll images to back up my numbers. They are easy enough to find if you scroll down the link. Thanks for the link BTW, it's a really nice piece showing how tolerant most Muslims are and backs up the point that extremist Muslims are a very small minority.
